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Council pauses $2.71M Brewer Arena improvements, sends project back to Parks & Rec for more stakeholder review
Summary
After a lengthy public airing of equestrian concerns about concrete walkways, capacity assumptions and transparency, the council directed staff to send the Brewer Arena reconstruction package back to the Parks and Recreation Board for additional coordination with stable owners and affected parties before final approval.
Councilors on Oct. 7 delayed final approval of a $2.71 million Brewer Arena improvements package after multiple equestrian stakeholders raised concerns about process, materials and the project scope.
Corey Styron (Community Services) summarized prior design work and safety findings: consultants had declared the existing bleacher structure unsafe, temporary seating was used, and a grant and design work directed replacement and ADA improvements. The proposed scope included new bleachers planned to seat roughly 700 in an accessible footprint, renovated restrooms with running water to meet health‑department requirements for vendors, accessible parking with a direct route, and an announcer's crow's nest/catwalk to remove livestock‑announcer conflicts.
Stable owners and equestrian users criticized the process as insufficiently transparent and argued that concrete accessible routes present hazards to horses (ice, lack of give), and that portable or crusher‑fine surfaces and portable ADA mats could meet needs at significantly lower cost. Lisa Reeder of the Stable Owners Association and other commenters requested a field tour and more opportunity to review detailed construction drawings. They also questioned the 700‑seat capacity estimate and contended that smaller portable bleachers could meet most event needs at far lower cost.
Council debated options including omitting the concrete route from immediate construction and pursuing alternative surfaces, and whether to proceed to keep the venue usable for next year's rodeo. After public input and council discussion, a motion to refer the Brewer Arena improvements back to the Parks and Recreation Board and to coordinate further with the stable owners association passed unanimously; staff will return with revised plans and additional stakeholder input.
