Community Center Expansion Exploration

Community News

The final meeting was held on Tuesday April 18th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. To view the Powerpoint presentation and also the meeting click on the links below.

Community Center Expansion Exploration Presentation                  Community Center Expansion Meeting

 For a list of recently added information please go to the Mounds View Community Center Concept Planning Report and The CSL Feasibility Study . These two documents were added to the Mounds View website on March 14, 2023.


The City Council continues to move forward with the exploration of expanding the Community Center. Council received final “concept” architectural drawings at their January workshop along with cost estimates.

Concept plans include the 3 new gymnasiums, a walking track above them that goes all the way around, an expanded fitness area, an indoor playground/children’s play area, additional meeting space, and the requisite locker rooms, concession area, storage, and required restrooms. The expansion would also include remodeling of the current reception/lobby area, offices and refreshing of existing spaces in the event center. The project also includes a small open to the air but screened patio off the north side entrance. In total, just over 72,000 new square feet would be added.

Cost estimates by Kraus Anderson range from $28 million to $33 million with inflation accounting for the largest portion of the increase. Council has contracted with a consultant to develop informational materials with a mailing to all residents in February and March. The City will hold several informational meetings to share details with residents about the project and answer any questions. Dates and times at the  at the Community Center:

  • April 13 at 10 AM, 1:30 PM and 7 PM

  • April 18 at 10 AM, 1:30 PM and 7 PM* (*7 PM meeting in council chambers)

Additionally, Council has contracted with a Community Survey/Research firm – Morris Leatherman, to conduct a community survey sometime in late April or May.

Funding for the project consists of seeking to obtain 50% or $16.5 million in state bonding resources. A draft bill is awaiting introduction and while there is a small chance last year’s bonding bill may pass this year, and be amended; we are working towards the 2024 bonding bill. The other half would come from the sale of bonds which can be financed by a voter approved levy on the property tax, a voter approved local option sales tax, or a combination of both.

Council is working with the legislator to obtain legislative authority to have voters approve a local option sales tax. Data from the Department of Revenue indicates a 1.5% tax would almost wholly fund the City’s remaining portion of the $33 million. The difference between these two funding sources is property owners would pay the voter approved bonds while consumers would pay the sales tax, if that approach was used. Key to funding is obtaining bonding proceeds first, absent which, the project is unlikely to move forward.