In Keizer, Oregon, it was a meeting of the Something Special Task Force, but one might think they were instead watching a philosophical debate on the role of government.

The debate centered around whether a proposed steel building to house basketball courts and other sports should be self-sustaining as a matter of policy.

Both sides made passionate arguments, with Jim Keller insisting it was not the city's job to subsidize such a facility, in case it ran a deficit. On the other hand, Bill Quinn said the city already pays for parks and it fits within the city's role to provide a place for Keizer's kids to go – even if it requires dipping into the general fund.

The conclusion? The Something Special Task Force left the question open, making a motion to build a large commercial steel building using the available Urban Renewal funds set aside for "something special." The key provision is the use of Urban Renewal funds, as opposed to using cash from the general fund used to hire city staffers and police officers.

Regardless of how much is spent to build the structure – Task Force member Bob Zielinski said much of the structural and basic plumbing work can be done for about $500,000, based on current steel building prices – there's also the question of how to pay for upkeep once the building is completed.

Zielinski and other task force members believe that community organizations – namely, the Keizer Youth Basketball Association – should step up and put in the man hours to turn a steel building into a haven for Keizer's basketball-loving youth.

And KYBA representative Rick Crager said his organization was "certainly interested … in stepping up and doing something similar to what Keizer Little League did" in essentially creating a full-scale facility with mostly volunteer labor.

However, Quinn suggested that the continued operation of the proposed facility should not hinge on whether it can completely pay for itself.
"We pay for someone to mow the lawn in parks we have now," Quinn said. "Every time we develop a park we have to put money into it. That's the cost of a city doing something for its citizens."

But Keller, who repeatedly asked how the facility would be paid for, said that it wasn't necessarily the city's job to pay for a youth facility. He said he didn't want to see the city "have to pay for taking care of the building rather than hiring a police officer.

Yet fellow Task Force member Teresa Walsh said a general steel building such as the one proposed – which could also be used for volleyball or batting practice – could help keep kids out of trouble.

Zielinski said the facility would likely cost the city little out of the general fund so long as this city council – and future councils – ensure that the amenities don't get out of hand.

"This could get as expensive as the city allows it to get," Zielinski said. "… If somebody talks them into putting down hardwood basketball courts, and you never know who's going to be on the board 20 years from now, I can tell you right now it's going to get expensive."