Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bond Issue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Reading council reviews $27 million bond proposal to fund stadium, public-safety and city administration projects
Summary
Council members discussed a proposed $27 million bond that would fund stadium renovations, a new fire and administration building, and police facility upgrades; council heard cost estimates, maintenance concerns and debated the merits of a land swap with the school district.
Council members spent the bulk of the special session discussing a multi-project proposal to fund stadium renovations, a new fire and administration building, and police facility improvements through a bond measure up to $27,000,000. Council member Bob Boehner provided a project cost breakdown, saying "The fire and administration building would cost $18 million dollars. To remodel this building for the police department, $1 million dollars. The stadium renovation would be $5 million dollars, with a $3 million dollar contingency fund."
Members debated the merits and trade-offs. Supporters — including Council member Mark Bishop and Council member Shelly Kroeger — said the proposal is the first comprehensive plan in decades to address multiple long-standing facility issues. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about turf, accessibility, taxpayer burden and the length of proposed financing. Council members also discussed a proposed land swap with the school district that would give the city four developable acres while the school would receive stadium improvements; council said maintenance and transfer terms would be clarified in later negotiations.
