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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Trout rewards offered at Lost Creek ... Shooting suspect back in Jackson County ... Medford council will study rec center idea ... Trout rewards offered at Lost Creek ... Shooting suspect back in Jackson County ... Medford council will study rec center idea ... CITY HALL Medford council will study rec center idea Parks and rec wish list includes $18 million for center Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 26, 2016 at 4:17 PM Updated May 26, 2016 at 6:53 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 26, 2016 at 4:17 PM Updated May 26, 2016 at 6:53 PM » Social News A recreation center with a gymnasium and an aquatic center — and an estimated $18 million minimum price tag — topped the wish list for future park services in Medford. “The need is there,” Councilor Daniel Bunn said. “I think it’s embarrassing for a town of our size not to have one.” Medford City Council indicated Thursday it wanted to study the idea of a recreation center, after studying a list of possible new recreation facilities and improvements prepared by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Brian Sjothun, the department's director, said he thought a recreation center could be as popular as U.S. Cellular Community Park, which features baseball, softball and soccer fields and routinely hosts large tournaments. “I believe it will be another tourist attraction,” he said. Sjothun, who said the location for a recreation center hasn’t been determined, said that if he had a gymnasium with eight basketball courts, he could fill it for both day and evening games. Councilor Tim Jackle said he liked the idea of a recreation center and suggested that when the city stops paying off Medford Urban Renewal Agency bonds in 2018, it could divert those tax dollars to pay for revenue bonds. The city estimates it will gain about $1 million annually from the urban renewal savings. At least one council member seemed surprised the topic was even raised. Councilor Kevin Stine said, “When did it come up that we’re going to have a recreation center?” Sjothun responded that city officials have been discussing a center since 1988. The city proposed a new aquatics facility for Hawthorne Park, but voters rejected the idea in 2012. The parks and recreation wish list cost totaled $48.5 million. Sjothun said options for paying for the facilities and improvements could come from fees on development, known as system development charges. The parks and recreation wish list included $11 million for park expansions and upgrades, $9 million for developing new paths and trails, $10 million for land purchases and $18.3 million for remodeling the city's Santo Community Center and building the recreation center. However, $18 million for a recreation center might not pay for the entire facility, Sjothun said, noting it could cost as much as $25 million. The council asked Sjothun to come back with other options for paying for the recreation center and some of the other proposals on the list. Councilors discussed various options in adjusting development fees, including one idea to charge slightly more in southeast Medford, where a significant amount of new building is expected, and charging less in other areas of the city. Under this proposal, the total fees from new development would decline overall. The development fees for a typical, new single-family house currently are $3,433. “I’m more interested in leaving SDCs where they are,” Councilor Dick Gordon said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted May. 26, 2016 at 4:17 PM Updated May 26, 2016 at 6:53 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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