May 2014

UPDATED: PUBLIC POOL PARTNERS file NEW pool petition

l3wis May 5, 2014 24Comments

I just got word they filed a new petition this afternoon it basically asks the city gets at least 10% private funding for an indoor pool, be built on at least 25 acres, the city has clear title and deed of the land, is built on a four lane roadway and there is ample parking.

PRESS RELEASE:

PUBLIC POOL PARTNERS FILES INDOOR POOL BALLOT INITIATIVE PETITION

Sioux Falls, SD, May 6, 2014 – Public Pool Partners, a citizen’s group, has taken steps to propose a new initiated measure. Public Pool Partners filed an Initiative Petition Registration with the City of Sioux Falls City Clerk’s office on Monday May 5, 2014. The language of the petition is as follows:

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED qualified voters of the municipality of Sioux Falls, the state of South Dakota, petition that the following ordinance be submitted to the voters of that municipality for their approval or rejection pursuant to law.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA TO BUILD

AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL:

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA:

The indoor pool will be true financial partnership between private and public interests with 10% of the construction costs being raised and paid for by private organizations.The indoor pool site must be located on roadways with no less than 4 lanes of traffic. If built in a Sioux Falls city park, that park must be at least 25 acres in size, to provide sufficient room for future expansion and adequate parking for national / regional swim meets. There shall be no less than 350 onsite parking spaces for indoor pools greater than 25 meters. If a city-owned site is determined for an indoor pool, that site must have clear title and city shall obtain legal opinion the site does not have any contingencies in the deed or title which may compromise future ownership of the property.

Public Pool Partners is a group of citizens representing many voters who have come forward since the April 8, 2014 Municipal Election expressing concern and confusion over Initiated Measure 2 and the election result. “The days leading to the April 8 election stirred considerable debate about the lack of a private/public financial partnership for an indoor pool, as has benefited the new indoor tennis and ice skating facilities,” says spokesperson John Matthius. “A significant number of voters also report that, while they support the idea of a municipal indoor pool for Sioux Falls, they had no intention of their vote being synonymous with a large indoor aquatic center being constructed at Spellerberg Park.”

Public Pool Partners asserts that the Sioux Falls City Council appears poised to yield to pressure to rush an indoor pool finance and location decision to a vote by May 13, 2014. Public Pool Partners believes a long term taxpayer commitment of this magnitude deserves more prudent consideration of responsible financing and suitable alternate location options.