TOPEKA (KSNT) - At a special meeting tonight, the city council will vote on a development deal with the Downtown Topeka Foundation to build an ice skating rink downtown.
The resolution being pitched by Councilmembers Brett Kell, Marcus Miller and Michelle Hoferer would divert the city's money going to the Evel Knievel Museum to the ice skating rink with a proposed location of in and around Evergy Plaza.
In 2015, the city agreed to allocate up to $300,000 from the city's transient guest tax to the Evel Knievel Museum over a 12-year period. The new ice skating rink proposal would cost $585,973 in 2024 and an estimated $173,016 in 2025.
"The TGT Committee is desirous of extending the 1% for an additional 12 years to provide a funding source for certain projects that the Committee believes will enhance tourism by putting more ‘heads on beds’ and delivering a quantifiable return on the City’s investment," the adopted resolution read.
A PowerPoint presentation attached to the special meeting agenda outlined several potential funding sources: $178,000 from the Evel Knievel Museum transient guest tax, $200,000 from an 'unidentified funding source' needed to pour concrete in 2025 and $400,000 from 'title sponsorship' for 10 years.
There are three years and $167,000 left in the 12-year deal with the Evel Knievel Museum. The proposal specified that allocated funds must be used to construct year-round development and programming needs, acquire land and prepare architectural designs & plans. Any changes to the allocated funds would need to be approved by the city manager or his designee.
Museum co-founder Mike Patterson announced on Tuesday, May 14 that the museum would close for good in Topeka on Nov. 2, 2024. Construction has already started for the museum’s location in Las Vegas.
Discussions among the Shawnee County Board of Commissioners to purchase the museum space for nearly $3 million took place in December 2023. The board approved of the deal that same year in a 3-0 vote with plans to convert the property into an auto body repair shop for the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.
The special meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at 215 SE 8th Street.
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