Because the city council is nearing a decision about the
operation of the Indoor Recreation Center, and the Mt. Madonna YMCA
has been involved in providing the citizens of Morgan Hill quality
youth and family programming since 1986, I thought it would be
helpful to clarify first-hand why the YMCA is considering
partnering with the city for the operation of the center.
Because the city council is nearing a decision about the operation of the Indoor Recreation Center, and the Mt. Madonna YMCA has been involved in providing the citizens of Morgan Hill quality youth and family programming since 1986, I thought it would be helpful to clarify first-hand why the YMCA is considering partnering with the city for the operation of the center.
The YMCA is proud to be celebrating their 20th year in Morgan Hill providing a variety of programs for children, families, adults and seniors. In 1992 when the city eliminated the Parks and Recreation Department, the YMCA was poised to step in and assist the city by delivering recreational services to the residents of Morgan Hill. During the last 14 years the YMCA has provided both fee-based and free services and has raised and invested nearly $1.5 million in this community.
In 2001, the city surveyed the opinions of Morgan Hill residents about the need for new recreation programs. By a large margin, results indicated residents wanted the city to build new facilities, but believed programs should be operated by a nonprofit. They also believed that facilities for adults should be paid for by the users, not by taxes. When we read this, we suggested such a partnership to the city of Morgan Hill.
Since that time, a variety of options have been considered to find the most appropriate model for operating the new Indoor Recreation Center. Most recently the city and the YMCA shared the cost of a marketing study to determine what Morgan Hill residents thought about pricing, programs, and operation preferences. Staff from the city and the YMCA worked together to develop the questions. The YMCA was eager to know if the residents still wanted our participation; the city wanted to know what price residents were willing to pay for use of the center. Once again the clear preference of the majority who planned to use the Center was that the YMCA deliver the health and fitness programs.
There are hundreds of partnerships between cities and YMCAs across the country and here in California. Most cities find they save money by having the YMCA use its business and specialized skills to operate facilities built by the city, or developing some variation of a partnership between the two.
We believe this proposed partnership with the Mt. Madonna YMCA would bring added value to the new Indoor Recreation Center as well as the city of Morgan Hill: health and fitness is a core competency for the YMCA.
The Mt. Madonna YMCA delivers these kinds of programs every day in our service areas of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, as well as across the country in a cost effective manner.
The YMCA has an established, strong infrastructure that will help with marketing, training, and launch of the new facility.
Residents also would have access to other YMCA facilities in Santa Clara County.
We hope to expand on the partnership that started with the city in 1992. The Mt. Madonna YMCA is committed to this community and will continue to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities like YMCAs worldwide have done for over 160 years.
