Council approves recreation-center ballot measure

Council approves recreation-center ballot measure

July 12, 2001

By Janelle Holden
Journal Staff Writer

After nearly two hours of public testimony and discussion, the Cortez City Council unanimously approved giving Cortez voters the right to vote yea or nay on an $8.1 million bond for a proposed recreation center.

"I’m for putting it on the ballot because I think it’s the only way to let the people decide," explained Mayor Pro Tem Fred Torres before the city council voted on Tuesday.

City voters will decide on the Nov. 6 ballot whether to fund the center by raising the city sales tax from 3.5 percent to 4.05 percent. A similar proposal failed in 1994 by a 2-1 margin, but a city survey conducted in June revealed a 2-1 margin in support of the center. Oddly enough, the 20 proponents of the center who testified at Tuesday’s public hearing outnumbered the 10 opponents by the same margin.

The proposed 43,000-square-foot recreation facility would be located at Parque de Vida and include a handicapped-accessible indoor jogging track, family pool, water slide, water channel for resistance walking, six-lane lap pool and diving board, basketball and volleyball courts, multi-purpose rooms, an exercise area for aerobic machines, day care, and office space.

The estimated daily fees are $2 for children between 5 and 12, $2.50 for youths, $4 for adults, and $3 for seniors 60 and over. Infants would get in free, and a five-member family would pay $9 for the day. Annual passes range from $125 for a child to $450 for a five-member family.

At Tuesday’s meeting, opponents charged that the recreation center would be underused, would operate at a loss, and might drive away out-of-town shoppers.

"I don’t think we can afford it. I don’t think we need it," said Dale Foote.

"This building is a luxury we can ill afford," agreed Ron Rieb. "Folks in Cortez cannot afford any more niceties like this, I’m sorry."

"I’m opposed to the rec center ’cause I don’t see why I have to pay more taxes for something I don’t want and won’t use," said senior citizen Fairfax Evans.

Johnny Gomez said he surveyed nine recreation centers across Colorado and all were losing money, a fact Parks and Recreation Director Chris Burkett doesn’t deny. If the $8.9 million bond passes, it will include funding for an expected $115,000-per-year city subsidy.

After the public hearing, City Manager Hal Shepherd pointed out that the city does subsidize other types of city recreation — baseball, golf, and tennis courts.

Proponents argued further that the center would likely draw in business from potential users, increase the health and well-being of the community at a low price, and be used county-wide.

"The facility is being built for everyone, and to say that the seniors won’t or can’t use it is incorrect," said Bob Diederich, chairman of Friends of the Center, a group of 24 city and county residents lobbying for the proposal.

"I think it’s time that Cortez, instead of being a caboose and following everybody, should be an engine and be a leader," said county resident Steve Miles, who argued that by cutting one grocery coupon out of the paper, residents could save the same amount lost on the center’s tax.

The half-cent hike in the city sales tax would mean an extra 5 cents spent for every $10 of purchased goods in Cortez, and 55 cents extra for every $100 of goods.

Harriet Duran, a senior citizen in favor of the recreation center, said she has been a resident for 40 years and has been hoping for a year-round swimming pool for 30 years. "If it fails again, I’ll just keep on wishing," Duran said.

O.K. Dotie said he recently became a grandfather and "instead of him (his grandson) going out and having a couple of beers, I’d rather have him go out and shoot a couple of hoops."

"Let’s get the kids out of the parking lots and into a more constructive environment," agreed Pat Fowler.

Jim and Robin Olterman, county residents who live 25 miles from Cortez, said they and their children would use the center. Jim Olterman lived in Montrose for 30 years and said, "I can tell you that in Montrose, that facility was used."

"If we can fund a jail for one end of society, why can’t we fund a recreation center for another end of society?" asked Sherry Fuller.

Although council member Jim Herrick said he wouldn’t directly argue for the center at the meeting, he later answered critics’ complaint that they wouldn’t use it by saying, "For the record, I voted for the jail but I don’t plan on using it."

During the council workshop, the council discussed the option of exempting groceries from the tax or giving senior citizens a rebate.

The current city sales tax does not include pharmaceutical prescriptions. If the city excluded grocery sales, which account for approximately 30 percent of tax revenues, from the $8,915,000 bond it would have to extend the 20-year bond to 31 years, officials said. City staff suggested instead that Cortez residents 62 and over could apply for an annual rebate of $30 after proving they had lived in Cortez for a year.

The rebate was calculated based on $100-a-week expense for food.

"I would much rather see a foundation where we could provide the less-fortunate free passage in," commented Herrick, who said it was a reality that "we cannot do this without a tax increase."

"We’re just trying to give seniors a reason not to vote no," Shepherd explained. The council made no decision on the possible rebate.

Diederich said the Friends of the Center committee would begin lobbying for the center immediately and booths would be set up at Wendy’s Fun Days, Krazy Daze, and other events.