June 14, 2007
Mayor Godfrey,
The City Council received the “Ogden Gondola Fiscal Impacts Analysis” dated November 2006 on June 1, 2007. Council Member Jeske requested a copy of the study on May 24th after you indicated in a work session that the study was completed and the same was reported by the Standard Examiner.
As follow-up to receiving the information the Council has the following questions:
1. What is the "Village" spoken of in the document at/near WSU?
2. What, if any information, was given to the analysts regarding operation of the gondola?
3. Why were the operational issues not included in the analysis?
4. Is Chris Peterson the sole constraint on procedural progress of the gondola proposal?
5. Are there any procedural issues regarding the gondola that the Council should expect to receive from the Administration in the near future?
6. Given the lack of any physical progress, budgetary requests, zoning actions, etc..., on the proposal, can it be said that the proposal is essentially on hold?
7. If the 1998 study was used for this study, was the same route used. Didn’t the 1998 study include the gondola going to Snowbasin? If so, hasn’t Earl Holding and Sinclair said this will not happen. What impact does this have on the financial analysis?
8. The cost of services for a 10 year period related to the development components is estimated to be just under $6 million. Where does that estimate come from? Can we see the internal analysis? How does the 2nd home nuance work into that analysis?
The ridership numbers are estimated to be about 805,000 a year. First, is that a build out number increasing as the project is built out or is that anticipated in the first year of operation? If they are first year estimates, what type of marketing investments would be necessary to bring the tourist element to town and do we have a plan to do that? Second, are those ridership numbers all as estimated in the previous corridor study?
9. Originally, the connection between downtown and Weber State for WSU students was said to maybe be cost free with a student bus pass. Is the cost of $1.35 per ride representing a student bus pass price? Has the possibility of discounting that ride even more been contemplated? How would additional decreases in the student fees affect the overall analysis?
10. How does the 53% annual room occupancy rate noted in the analysis compare with the current annual Ogden City area occupancy rate?
11. Why didn’t the Council receive a copy of the study in November 2006 when it was completed?
12. Where did the information regarding the “downtown hotel” come from?
13. Who paid for the work that Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham did on this study?
14. Did the City pay any money to Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham for this study?
15. Did the City pay UTA or any other entity to reimburse the costs for the study?
16. Has UTA agreed to pay for or reimburse the costs of this study?
17. Please explain the $16,250 City expenditure for the “Ogden Gondola Impact Analysis” dated December 22, 2006 that was canceled. This charge would have been to the Crossroads of the West Historical District.
18. Please explain the two financial system postings regarding the study of $16,250 (one to 7120-1-33002, one to 7120-1-33001) dated March 9, 2007.
These questions are being submitted on behalf of all seven Council Members. We would appreciate a prompt response.
Sincerely,
Jesse Garcia
Council Chair
Cc: Council Members
