But it's not a plan that seems to be popular with the mayor.
The Frances Meadows Aquatic and Community Center could be home to new fitness and child care centers.
Parks and Rec Director Melvin Cooper said slightly raising the fees would help the revenue stream, but replacing two little-used meeting rooms at the facility with more fitness equipment, and an accompanying child care area, would be big.
"The board feels like this will give the opportunity for more people in the community to utilize the facility," said Cooper.
"From the day we first opened the facility, until almost everyone that comes into the facility now, the question is 'where is your fitness center?'"
Cooper pointed to several spots around the city where groups can rent out rooms, meaning the supply far outweighs the demand.
But Mayor Myrtle Figueras said she would be completely against getting rid of the meeting rooms, saying it is not what was promised to the public when the center was built.
"I cannot see us changing the use of what was supposed to be a community center," said Figueras.
Figueras said the city's psyche would take a hit if the plans for the center were changed.
Other ways of raising money would include slightly raising some of the center's fees, such as charging in-county residents an extra dollar for a daily pass.
The topic is on the agenda for next week's council meeting.
LESSON ON WATER
City Council requested it, and the city's Public Utilities gave it--an education on reservoirs and water options for north Georgia.
Director Kelly Randall said one future option was to get the water before it enters Lake Lanier.
"So you weren't talking about storage capacity in Lake Lanier, you're just talking about Georgia water," said Randall. "Georgia could authorize you to draw water prior to it entering Lake Lanier."
Once the water enters the lake, it becomes the property of the Army Corps of Engineers.
Design and Technical Service Manager Mak Yari gave a general overview of past research projects of possible sites for reservoirs.
Randall said the more reservoirs north Georgia could find, the better it would be for the region.
He also had advice for the council.
"Just ask EPD, 'given our situation here in Gainesville-Hall County, how would you recommend we move forward?' And get the benefit of their thinking."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/10/224354