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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6 Resolution No. 4440, Ice ClimbingPage 1 of 2 Bozeman Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Brit Fontenot, Director of Economic Development SUBJECT: Commission Resolution 4440, Expressing Support for Efforts to Construct an Ice Climbing Tower and Attached Performance Venue at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds MEETING DATE: October 7, 2013 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent RECOMMENDED MOTION: I move to approve Resolution 4440, expressing support for efforts to construct an ice climbing tower and attached performance venue, at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. BACKGROUND: The City of Bozeman (the City) and its citizens highly value recreation and access to outdoor recreation facilities which aids in leading an active healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the City has identified the outdoor sector as one deserving of support due to its high growth potential for job creation and economic diversification. As shown in a recent Montana Standard article, Outdoors big draw to small biz: 70% say state’s enticing environment is a factor; economic vitality and recreational access are closely linked in Bozeman and the surrounding areas. Recreational opportunities and venues enhance quality of life which leads to growth in our local economy. The City continues to position itself to encourage and promote outdoor industry growth, recognizing how vital the outdoor sector is to the region. Ice and rock climbing are an important component of our outdoor industry. With world class ice and rock climbs only minutes from downtown Bozeman and the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival celebrating its 17th year, the time is right to expand these opportunities by supporting the effort to construct a facility unique in the Americas; a permanent, urban ice climbing tower that offers world-class training and competition facilities near downtown Bozeman. The climbing tower could position Bozeman as the ice climbing capital of the western hemisphere. The proposed ice climbing tower and performance venue will hold other draws as well. Conveniently located near existing recreational opportunities at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, the proposal includes an attached outdoor performance venue and could also be used for rock climbing, rescue training and adaptive sports. Solar panels, recycling water from the ice tower and built in office spaces add to the creative and multi-purpose concept design. 49 Page 2 of 2 Community support for the proposed ice climbing tower has been generally enthusiastic but somewhat varied. Ice climbing enthusiasts and other recreationalists mention the value of constructing an urban ice climbing venue and the potential to attract more attention to the sport and the community. From an economic development perspective, a new venue for a growing sport in the urban core presents attractive economic opportunities. Planned improvements at the Fairgrounds like paved parking, more attractive entrances and a second sheet of skating ice add value to the location. A permanent ice climbing tower with an attached performance venue is consistent with the evolution of the Fairgrounds. Some residents near the Fairgrounds have expressed concern with the proposed performance venue as potentially contributing to the increased impacts Fairground events have on the adjacent neighborhood. The resolution of support for the project acknowledges the concerns of some neighbors and encourages consideration of a thoughtful location and supports conscientious planning of all aspects of the facility to reduce neighborhood impacts. Unique in the Americas, a permanent, urban ice climbing facility in the core of Bozeman represents the opportunity to promote Bozeman as the “Ice Climbing capital of the World” and encourages and promotes events and festivals that add a new dimension to the outdoor offerings in Bozeman and the surrounding areas. It also provides search and rescue training facilities for backcountry first responders and simultaneously promotes healthy and active outdoor pursuits. UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None ALTERNATIVES: As proposed by the City Commission. FISCAL EFFECTS: None identified at this time. Attachments: 1. Commission Resolution 4440; and 2. Rendering of the proposed ice climbing tower with attached performance venue. Report compiled on: 09-27-13 with significant contributions by Aimee Brunckhorst 50 COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4440 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO BUILD AN ICE CLIMBING TOWER WITH ATTACHED PERFORMANCE VENUE AT THE GALLATIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman and its citizens highly value outdoor recreation and access to outdoor recreational facilities as an important aspect of the community’s health while adding to the high quality of life found in Bozeman; and WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman and its citizens support efforts to strengthen the economic vitality of the region; and WHEREAS, the Bozeman City Commission identified economic development as a high priority; and WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman’s Economic Development Plan prioritizes support for the “expansion and retention of existing businesses and economic [sectors] that will continue to strengthen and diversify the economy and create higher paying jobs in Bozeman”; and WHEREAS, the outdoor industry in Bozeman is identified as a high-growth potential sector; and WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has dedicated resources to facilitate the creation of an outdoor sector in Bozeman; and WHEREAS, the sport of ice climbing is growing in popularity in Montana, the United States, and worldwide; and WHEREAS, the Bozeman area is known for world class climbing opportunities on natural ice; WHEREAS, a permanent, urban ice climbing tower, with attached performance venue will be unique in the Americas; and 51 Resolution No. 4440, Supporting Efforts to Build an Ice Climbing Tower Page 2 of 2 WHEREAS, an ice climbing tower will attract world class ice climbers and related events bolstering both tourism and the outdoor recreation economy; and WHEREAS, an ice climbing tower could be used as a training facility for Gallatin Search and Rescue and as a year-round rock and ice climbing wall; and WHEREAS, the ice climbing tower facility will include a performance venue; and WHEREAS, the City Commission acknowledges concerns of some residents of the neighborhood and encourages consideration of a thoughtful location and supports conscientious planning of all aspects of the facility to reduce neighborhood impacts. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana that, for the aforementioned reasons, the City supports efforts to construct an ice climbing tower with an attached performance venue at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the _____ day of ________, 2013. ___________________________________ SEAN A. BECKER Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________ STACY ULMEN, CMC City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ GREG SULLIVAN City Attorney 52 53