A little over a week after hearing the big news that the City of Tracy will receive $500,000 in grant money to put toward the new community center, members of the Community Center Workforce Group met for a little over an hour Wednesday to discuss the next step in turning an existing building into a public showcase and something all residents can use.
The Minnesota Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects grant money comes in the form of reimbursements and must be used on community center projects only. Its purpose is to support community revitalization, connectedness and equity by promoting education, work and health. The target for the money is the former ADO building on South St. which the City recently purchased from a private owner.
Wednesday’s discussion hit on items such as parking lot work and how current issues there will be addressed, what can and can’t be served out of the catering kitchen, and roofing issues and concerns.
A blueprint created by Bollig, Inc. was also handed out to the group. That blueprint includes two meeting rooms both with spaces for storage, an office space/boardroom large enough to accommodate up to 10 people and all with its own storage space, two bathrooms, a large kitchenette, a main, central-located front office/ greeting space and vestibule and a utility room.
“The next step I would like to see from you is the approval of the plan that is presented (today),” said Bollig Senior Architectural Designer/ Aviation Planner Barbara Marks. “That doesn’t mean there’s no tweaking to go, it means there won’t be any drastic changes to scope. At that point, we can get some costs associated with it. Then we can get some information back to this group and the City so you can decide the scope of the project.”
Marks said occupancy in the center needs to be kept under 150 people because of code issues.
There was also discussion about the existing vault in the building, and it was determined that the vault will not be removed since it was determined there was not enough benefit to outweigh cost of removal.
Much of the discussion Wednesday centered around the catering kitchen/kitchenette and what can and can’t be done there. Basically, Marks said, if you make it, you can serve it. Storebought items cannot be sold out of the kitchen, and residential appliances must be used. Fundraising events with food can still be done by permit.
Marks reported that the existing roof membrane does not show signs of current leaking, a though there are areas that show there was some leaking at some point in the past that likely has been addressed already.
Security-wise, there will be up to six cameras installed at various locations.
Future meetings will be held, ideally including about three community members of different age demographics (one person in their 30s, one in their 40s and one in their 50s).
