It's a race against the clock to fund a $50 million city hall complex in Fridley, where some residents are at odds over whether to first have voters weigh in on the project.
Since the City Council gave the financing plan preliminary approval after a packed public hearing last month, an ad hoc group has been door knocking almost daily, working to muster signatures to petition for a referendum. They have until Dec. 14 to get at least 683 eligible voters to sign, which equals 5 percent of the votes cast in the last general election.
At the same time, those who support the new civic campus and oppose a referendum have created a website and taken to posting on social media. The group, known as "Fridley Citizens," also has mailed postcards, passed out fliers and posted yard signs, urging residents to think twice before signing the petition.
"It's a do-or-die kind of moment," said Mandy Meisner, who belongs to the Fridley Citizens group.
For nearly three years, city officials have studied what to do with City Hall and the public works building, which are more than 60 years old. Constructing a brand-new complex, they say, would offer taxpayers more bang for the buck than undertaking an extensive patchwork of repairs.
"It's many Band-Aids on top of other Band-Aids," said Mayor Scott Lund.
Other cities have recently faced similar dilemmas, debating whether to remodel existing facilities or build anew. From Richfield to Shakopee, aging municipal structures across the suburbs are being spruced up or replaced.
Fridley city officials say time is crucial in terms of building costs and interest rates. A referendum, they say, may add as much as $5 million to the already hefty price tag. If an election isn't necessary, construction on the new civic campus will begin in May 2017.
