The Mesquite City Council will take up a request from City Staff to provide further direction on the construction of a proposed indoor sports center at its Nov. 22 meeting.

The background material for the agenda item lists the fiscal impact of the project as "up to $5 million depending on the option chosen by the City Council."

When the idea of building a steel and membrane structure near the existing Mesquite Sports and Event Center was first proposed in August by Interim City Manager Kurt Sawyer and Economic Development Director Bryan Dangerfield, they estimated the cost of the project at $3.7 million. Sawyer stated several times since that the true cost of the project couldn't be known until it went out for bidding by construction companies.

The Council authorized that action at its Oct. 11 meeting.

Staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Site Design Services on Oct. 21 with a due date of Oct. 31. The RFQ stated that "The project has an extremely tight project schedule. The City will need a set of biddable drawings for the actual site work on Thursday, Nov. 17."

Sawyer included an item on the Council's Nov. 1 Technical Review agenda that would have considered "giving City Staff the approval to enter into a contract with a design firm for site design services for the proposed MISC."

Without much explanation, Sawyer pulled the item from the Technical Review agenda saying simply, "Staff has looked at the bids received and needs more time."

Rather than asking for approval to enter into a contract, the Agenda item is asking Council to "provide further direction to staff regarding the method of bidding out the project." There is no mention of awarding a contract for site design services.

The Nov. 22 agenda item background material includes a list of estimated project costs for the Mesquite Indoor Sports Complex.

The background material also shows a list of potential funding sources that includes several private companies that hold Joint Development Agreements (JDA) with the City.

The potential funding from NCS is currently projected for the construction of an amphitheater near the MESC that was approved by the previous Council back in the Spring. NCS is required by its 2010 JDA with the City to spend one million dollars on a recreational amenity. So far, the company says it has used approximately $150,000 of the $1 million on the design of the amphitheater. NCS could decide to use the remaining money to help fund the MISC instead of the amphitheater.

MesTech Holdings LLC has a JDA with the City to develop 102 acres in the Mesquite Technical and Commerce Center (MTCC) with "about $500,000 available from initial land sale proceeds," according to the background material.

Pride Contractors also holds a JDA with the City to develop 8.87 acres in the MTCC with "approximately $200,000-$300,000 available from initial land sale proceeds."

The background material also says that approximately $2.4 million remains in the 2009 RDA bond sale proceeds that could be used for the project.

RDA property tax revenue in the bank is listed at "about $2.9 million," according to the agenda item background documents, that is "used to pay annual bond obligations and operating costs." The projected property tax revenue for the current fiscal year is shown as $2,150,000 with $2,300,000 in required debt service. The $150,000 shortage in revenues needed to pay the debt service comes out of the General Fund.

Staff has listed four types of project development methods under a "Public Works Project" label that includes conventional bids, qualified bidder, design-build, and construction manager at risk.

A "Private Venture" development method is also included that would have the City issue Requests for Proposals and allow private companies to propose the terms of the project including the location and construction process.

Other items on the Council's agenda for Nov. 22 include a discussion of the Virgin River Habitat Conservation and Recovery Plan (VRHCRP) as it relates to the City's current participation policy, fee structures in association with other entities, and generally defining the City's requirements concerning the VRHCRP. The agenda item was requested by David Ballweg, Mesquite resident and business owner.

Council will also consider the acceptance of an annual audited financial report for FY 2010-2011, adoption of an Interlocal agreement with NDOT for landscaping and maintenance of the Mesquite Welcome Center, and approving an Independent Contractor Agreement with Larry LeMieux for the Mesquite Airport.

Council will consider a request from the Mesquite Police Department to hire a part-time Animal Control Officer for $12,700 plus required taxes.

They will also consider approving a contract with Forsgren Associates Inc. for the design and bidding services of the Pioneer Shared Use Path project. The project calls for replacing existing sidewalks from Turtleback Road to Redd Hills Parkway at the Grapevine Overpass and the construction of a new sidewalk from Horizon Blvd to Calais Drive.

The City Council meeting begins at 5 PM in the City Council Chambers and is open to the public.