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Three ‘events' sites studied
By Anthony McConnell
This document was published online on Wednesday, June 25, 2008
An indoor equestrian center will not be included as part of the proposed events center.
That was the decision Tuesday of the city council-appointed Events Center Task Force.
Developing an equestrian/multi-use center in the future by a separate group is always a possibility, task force chairman Sam Krone said.
“But this task force should focus on the events center,” he added. “The indoor arena is separate and apart from what we've decided to do with this group.”
“Something like that would be a wonderful addition to Cody,” council member and mayoral candidate Nancy Tia Brown said. But she added that an equestrian center “is not realistic” as part of the events center.
Chamber director Kim Jones said she would like to see an inclusive convention, equestrian and performing arts center. But she agreed with the need for the task force to keep its focus on the events center.
“We have to decide what comes first and how we fund it,” Krone said. “I don't think we can do all three (events, performing arts and equestrian) at once.”
An events center with a performing arts center can be compatible at all three prospective locations, he added.
Potential sites include the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and Cody Auditorium, both of which are downtown, but, for space and neighborhood issues, neither site could include an equestrian center.
Equestrian center representatives were invited but did not attend the meeting at City Hall.
The task force agreed the ideal location for an equestrian center would be adjacent to the rodeo grounds.
The Stampede Board owns that land and has offered acreage free for the proposed events center - but only if it includes an equestrian arena.
“If it doesn't include an equestrian center, we're not interested,” Stampede Board member Tim Mahieu said Wednesday, declining further comment until after the Fourth of July. “We'll have more to say once things slow down a bit.”
The task force also decided to hire JGA Architects of Billings to conduct a comprehensive site evaluation of the three proposed locations (BBHC, Cody Auditorium and rodeo grounds). But to ensure the comparisons are fair and uniform, the sites will be evaluated only for an events center.
By using JGA to conduct the study, rather than doing it in-house, the task force hopes to keep the site selection process objective, professional and “above politics,” Krone said.
“If we don't keep it objective then it will get mired down in opinion,” Brown said. “This has to be ‘facts, facts, facts.'”
Irma Hotel owner John Darby also encouraged the group to keep the process objective, saying that having a third party conduct the site analysis will eliminate any perception of bias.
The group hopes the study can be completed for the $10,000 already appropriated by the city council. If not, private donations will be sought.
“This has to be a public/private partnership,” Krone said.
City Administrator Andy Whiteman and Krone will again approach the county commissioners about funding part of the study.
“At the end of the day, this is also a county issue,” Krone said. “An events center would impact the revenue and sales tax that goes to the county.”
The site study of the three locations is expected to be completed in the fall, Whiteman said.
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old grouch wrote on Jun 30, 2008 10:24 AM: