City Council Informational • 4 PM
Presentations on;
• 2019 Sales Tax Update, 2020 Capital Projects and Bond Funding Update by Shawn Pritchett, Director of Finance; Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation; Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works; and Brad Goodroad, Fire Chief
• Washington Pavilion Parapet and Cornice Condition Assessment and Study by Liz Squyer, Principal Architect, Architecture Incorporated.
While there is NO supporting documents yet online, the rumor is the project will cost around $6 million. This is for removal of the badly deteriorating pieces now, repairing the roof and replacing them with fiberglass replicas. And here’s the kicker, only one company can make them. Any councilors willing to support this extravagant expenditure should be taken to the wood shed. The pieces should have been removed at the time of the remodel over 20 years ago and never replaced. Also, they are NOT a part of the original building, they were added in the 1930’s, and NOBODY will notice they are gone. The council should budget for removal and repair (which I’m sure will be expensive also) but not for replacement. I’m sure he Pavilion will be just fine without Parapets and Cornice. If they really want to replace them, they can take on a private fundraiser.
Item #7, Approval of Contracts, Sub Item #5, $35K to the Sioux Falls Arts Council. While I think this amount should be more, like a cool million, I think this item should NOT be hidden in this document.
Sub Item #11, Ice rink joint replacement at the EC, $178K
Item #13, 2nd Reading, Ordinance, $300K for coppers running parades. I support this despite my sarcasm. The rumor going around city hall is that councilor Erickson is in the doghouse with Mayor Selfie over this, and he has left her out of the ‘special lunches’ lately. Oh Christine, you know it was only a matter of time before a woman in leadership was going to be tossed aside by the Dutch Mafia. Notice it is not called the ‘Dutch FEMALE’ Mafia’.
Item #14, 2nd Reading, paying more for parks. As a foot soldier pointed out to me yesterday, what is up with the Levitt fees? While I understand these costs have to be covered, taxpayers built this joint, maintain this joint (parks grounds) so why the crazy rental fees? Also, not sure why they are based on attendance. Whether 3 people show up or 4,000, the sound system works the same.
Item #15, another $300K plus in supplemental appropriations to the Pavilion. We really should rename this place ‘The Money Pit’.
Item #16, this is the one where Mayor Selfie has decided he is going to tell the city council, the legislative branch how to spend money. If I was a city councilor, I would make an amendment to file an ethics violation against the mayor for his abuse of power.
Ridiculous, spend millions for dysfunctional Pavilion eye candy nobody notices. It’s city government. They’re known for stupidity and waste. Fix it then. I need a good laugh every time I pass by.
Parapets and cornices are to architecture what frames are to paintings. Essential? No. Helpful to the overall aesthetic? Absolutely.
More importantly though, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The parapet and cornices are going nowhere without a fight.
As I mentioned above, the cornice wasn’t added to almost 30 years later and not a part of the original historic construction. Moot point. Fiberglass replacements of something that no one notices at a $6 million dollar pricetag is ridiculous. Just image what $6 million could do for youth art programming at the Pavilion in 2020? A lot more than decoration, alot more.
35k to the Arts Council? Total waste. Private fund raise if you want art. The Pavillion is going to be a huge burden for the city forever. Think of it as a parasite you can never get rid of. The building just slowly, quietly eats money with no return for the majority of taxpayers who only venture into the parasite once every 2 to 3 years only to realize it’s a great idea in theory but soon see it’s just a old school with some science fair attractions and crappy art.
You’re right, it’s a moot point…because the parapets and cornices don’t have to be original to the structure for them to be protected.
Say what you will about the Pavilion being an expensive public facility, but the Sommervold Hall alone gives Sioux Falls a favorable reputation. Performing artists recognize what an impressive performance venue it is. They travel . . . and word gets around. What other location in SF could present an audience of 1800 with good acoustics for Broadway shows, symphony, top level standup comedy or legacy recording artists?
I would agree the great hall is amazing, but fiberglass cornice will neither add or takeaway from that experience
Plastic cornices to match the people running city hall, plastic. Nothing real or substantive to the zeal these phonies. Just like the last mayor, this one only knows how to put lipstick on pigs and call it progress.
I I guess they need to replace the cornice so they can keep their historical designation. Also, the terra cotta cornicebup their now has caused roof leaks since the day it opened because rebar going into the building holding the cornice in place has rusted and created holes
They should just let it slowly decay in true Greek or Roman form. Replacing it with a more modern form, like that new mid-century shelter roof that has been placed above the east entrance, will only serve to match Washington Square, while ignoring the obvious, which is, that the current decay matches more the realities of a collapsed building, pot holes, or a Bunker Ramp, then any attempt to be what we are not. Washington Square is a monument to something, while the Pavilion is a monument to something that once was. The former is a symbol of an attempt to be great, while the latter is a symbol of when we were great.