Who will handle what at the proposed Indoor Recreation Center is
on the City Council agenda for Wednesday night.
Who will handle what at the proposed Indoor Recreation Center is on the City Council agenda for Wednesday night.
After several well-attended meetings in 2002 over whether the city’s Recreation Department would run the center or if the place should be turned over to the local YMCA to run or if a joint model would work, council finally decided to run the facility itself with appropriate help from the Y. The center will be built with Redevelopment Agency money.
Mt. Madonna YMCA representatives said they were reluctant to give up control of programs with which they have a proven track record but would try to reach accord with the city. Contract details going before the council Wednesday show that some amount of agreement may be possible.
According to the city staff report, this spring the YMCA proposed to provide aerobics, aquatics and fitness programs at the center. They would propose schedules and class offerings subject to the city’s approval.
The city would determine the hours of operation, fee schedule and revenue model for the center as well as offering programming for children and seniors and gymnasium activities, party packages and for site administration and support as well.
The contract with the YMCA to provide aerobics, aquatics and fitness programs at the IRC would cost approximately $741,084, according to the staff report, resulting in a net operating loss of $20,000.
Using city staff to offer the programs would potentially cost less because of different staffing patterns, the report said. However, the YMCA Oversight Committee composed of Mayor Dennis Kennedy and Councilman Larry Carr reported that the extra cost to the city is worthwhile since it would work to keep the YMCA presence in town.
Carr especially said he favored allowing Y involvement during discussions in 2002.
The YMCA representatives, during the 2002 meetings, threatened to leave town if the larger, essentially competing facility were built and operated without their help.
The report asks the council to consider the many other factors affecting operating costs for the IRC. Sports Management Group prepared an economic analysis in January 2002, now being refined, that detailed some cost recovery issues.
The final size, appearance, quality of the structure plus the number and kind of amenities offered have a great effect on the bottom line. The popular climbing wall, included in the original plans is no longer in the construction budget; it could be added if enough support – community and financial – appear.
The final fee schedule – how much to charge for classes and services – is important. Higher fees for swim lessons, the report said, may be necessary for YMCA-run classes. Different fees for different hours – high/low use times – or an annual pass to provide facility access only without group classes could all have an affect.
Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of avoiding duplicating offerings at the Community and Cultural Center and the Aquatics Center.
The IRC will be built on land purchased by the city on Edmundson Avenue next to Community Park – the empty lot which the Mushroom Mardi Gras uses as a parking lot.
