7:30 - 9:00PM

Public Forum
Blue Valley Baptist Church – 151st and Antioch

The Johnson County Republican Women's Club sponsored a public forum on October 12, 2006. The subject of the forum is the Soccer Complex at 159th and Antioch in South Overland Park. The forum hoped to address the rising concerns of homeowners in the area, as well as other citizens and taxpayers in the county. The Sunflower Club invited a panel of speakers to participate.

Dave Lindstrom, BOCC, appeared, gave his presentation and left for another commitment.
Kevin Gray, Greater Kansas City Sports Authority, appeared but gave his speaking time to Dave Lindstorm.
Terry Goodman, President of the Overland Park City Council
Michael Meadors, Director of Johnson County Parks and Recreation, was out of town.
ON/GOAL(Wizards) declined to appear because they are in negations.
Price Brothers Realty declined to appear because of a previous commitment
Bob Riggs, Kansas Youth Soccer Association declined to appear because the association is a 501 (3) c.

Also participating will be Wayne Flaherty, Homeowners Against Soccer Welfare, Peter LaTesa, Blue Valley Homeowners Against Tax Waste, Tracy Thomas, former Shawnee City Councilwoman, Tom Williams, attorney/homeowner, and Shirley Phillips, Neighborhood Net.

Darla Jaye, KCMO 980 moderated the forum.

Approximately 175 people attended the forum. The audience wrote questions on cards which were answered by those left on the panel as time allowed. The media attended and followed up with reports on the 10:00 PM news and in the newspapers in the next issue. The general consensus was that it was unfortunate that proponents of the project did not appear. The opponents were well-prepared and gave well thought-out arguments.

The proposed Soccer Complex will be comprised of 24 tournament level soccer fields, a community center, maintenance buildings, parking, landscaping and infrastructure funded by a $75 million 20 year bond issue to be voted on Nov 7, 2006.

Little is known about financing the stadium for the KC Wizards professional soccer team as negotiations are on-going, according to John Nachbar, Overland Park City Manager. The Overland Park City Council voted to begin the process to apply for STAR bonds for financing the stadium and extensive road improvements that will include an interchange at 159th St and 69 Highway and the completion of interchange at 167th Street. Terry Goodmand reported that the cost of the road/interchange improvement could cost $200-250 million. The cost to the City of Overland Park for their feasibility studies will be several hundred thousand dollars. The property, owned by Price Brothers Realty, will be sold for the soccer fields and the stadium with the remaining land developed into retail.

This type of complex, with tournament level youth soccer fields, a soccer stadium for a professional soccer team and a retail component, is favored by the soccer community nationwide. Five other complexes with the same components have been built elsewhere in the United States. Only one complex is near a residential neighborhood. The neighborhood was built after the complex. Currently the land for this complex is Master Planned for 45 acres in retail with the remainder in mixed use residential. Key to the complex moving forward is the bond issue for tournament level soccer fields. If the bond issue passes and the tournament level fields are built, the stadium and retail will most assuredly follow. So little is known about financing the professional stadium and the massive amount of infrastructure costs, many citizens have expressed grave concerns. The site for the complex was chosen by the Wizards/OnGoal.

Voters will have to make a decision on Nov 7th.