A new children’s hospital, a high-tech business center and a television-film-video game industry complex were some of the ideas Natomas residents discussed Thursday as potential re-uses for the current arena site – if the arena is relocated.

More than 80 residents and business owners met at a town hall meeting hosted by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan and City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby for an hour-long discussion and question-and-answer session about the arena’s future.

Attendees expressed ideas and concerns about what the city should do with what has been a hub of sports and entertainment activity for more than 20 years.

Power Balance Pavillion (formerly Arco Arena) has been home to the Sacramento Kings since 1988, but the future of the site has come into question recently as talk of a new arena has begun to escalate throughout the region.

Mayor Kevin Johnson initiated the “Think Big Sacramento” committee to find ways to revitalize Sacramento – and keep the Sacramento Kings NBA team from relocating – by building a new sports and entertainment complex in downtown.

Thursday’s town hall meeting in Natomas focused on both re-use ideas and the impact on area residents who would be directly affected if the current site goes unused.

Celia Hernandez, a South Natomas resident who commented at the meeting, said she valued the chance to talk directly with Ashby and Pan about where Natomas is heading.

“There are a lot of citizens who have a stake in the community,” Hernandez said. “To be able to come to (Ashby and Pan) and bring our opinions and perspectives goes a long way with us.”

Hernandez said that health care is a priority for a lot of residents in Natomas, and having a hospital in the area would have a positive impact on the residents.

“Our community has grown considerably,” Hernandez said, “and when you’re talking about this many residents, we need (a hospital). It’s irresponsible to not have one.”

Some in the audience favored a high-tech center to encourage large-scale technology companies like Google and Intel to make Natomas their new hub, bringing stable employment opportunities to the community.

Ashby and Pan are co-chairs of a Think Big Sacramento subcommittee dedicated to coming up with a designated re-use plan for the current Natomas site.

They hope to “identify a strong economic engine for the Natomas area that will not only strengthen Natomas, but the entire Sacramento region,” according to a recent press release from Ashby’s office.

“The goal of (the) subcommittee is to work concurrent to the larger committee’s efforts in addressing regional impacts associated with building a new arena,” Ashby said in the press release.

One of the larger concerns of audience members Thursday was how to bring jobs and economic vitality to Natomas at a time when the region is suffering from a stunted economy and declining home values.

Residents were also eager to emphasize their desire for Natomas to “not be left behind” as the rest of the city focuses on a new sports complex downtown, Pan noted after the meeting.

“Not only do they want to be listened to, they want action,” Pan said.

Ashby said she appreciated the tremendous interest that Natomas residents showed in the future of their neighborhoods.

“They came up with great ideas,” Ashby said. “They are open, and they’re willing to work for it. I know I can count on them.”

As the Think Big Sacramento committee continues to pursue financing options for a new arena and sports complex, Ashby and Pan and the 14-member subcommittee will follow up on ideas for re-use of the site that audience members brought to light Thursday, Ashby said.

“We will definitely come up with a new use for the (old arena) site,” Ashby said. “That is going to happen.”

Pan said he anticipates there will be additional town hall meetings in Natomas in the future, but no specific date for another meeting has been set.

The next meeting of the Think Big Sacramento committee is Aug. 25, and the committee will conclude its first 100 days with a summary report on financing possibilities to the City Council on Sept. 6.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.