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Adhoc Committee for Rec Facility Minutes 2012 05-07-12 APPROVED 6/11/12 UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE Ad Hoc Committee for Recreation Facility Alternatives Committee Meeting City Hall Conference Room Monday, May 7, 2012 7:00 p.m. Call to Order: Chairman Chris Funkhouser called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Establish a Quorum: Present: Chris Funkhouser, Chairman, Alderman Jackie Milschewski, Alderman Carlo Colosimo, Alderman Larry Kot, Alderman Rose Spears, Alderman Gary Golinski, Mayor Ken Koch, Park Board Debbie Horaz, Park Board Amy Cesich, Park Board Kelly Sedgwick, Park Board City Officials Present: Bart Olson, City Administrator Tim Evans, Superintendent of Recreation Shay Rosborough, Recreation Laura Schraw, Director of Parks Other Guests: Tony Scott, Record Newspaper Andrew Bobbitt, YMCA Rebecca Mophey, YMCA Citizens Comments: Lisa Peterson stated she looked at the spreadsheet and stated she believes the REC Center is a nice thing for the city to have, but we are not a park district and the city is trying to run a facility like a park district, but we do not have those taxing dollars. Previous Minutes: The minutes from February 13, 2012 were approved. Motion made by Deb Horaz and seconded by Jackie Milschewski. New Business: Discussion of the City of Yorkville and the YMCA Options - Chairman Funkhouser stated Mr. Bobbitt and Ms. Mophey are here to discuss these options with the committee. Chairman Funkhouser stated in the packet there is a presentation from 2006-2007 when there was a similar discussion about a joint venture. He stated it is a little dated, but still relevant. Chairman Funkhouser stated one option was a city built facility and the other was a city owned building with a contract to run the operations. Chairman Funkhouser stated as determined in previous meetings a city built meeting is not an option. Mr. Bobbitt stated the YMCA Board of Directors has looked at a new strategic plan since the old one is outdated. Mr. Bobbitt said they have been impacted by the economy just as everyone else. He stated they have been formally asked about partnering with the city on a facility. Mr. Bobbitt stated the board emailed to city to get a discussion going. Mr. Bobbitt stated the YMCA currently services thousands of Yorkville members. Mr. Bobbitt said they were donated land in Grande Reserve and he stated the YMCA is sensitive to the fact they would be in competition with the city if they pursue a new facility and it could be bad for each of them. Mr. Bobbitt stated the YMCA helps reduce the burden of government. Mr. Bobbitt said there are costs of running the REC Center whether leased or owned it can have a negative impact to the bottom line. Mr. Bobbitt said as a 501(c)3 if the YMCA can have a partnership and not compete and co-manage this facility, the board of directors agreed it is something worth discussing. He stated there are examples on a national basis in other communities that have worked based on the needs of those local communities. Mr. Bobbitt said the YMCA doesn't have a formal presentation put together as of yet. He said they are in attendance tonight to take questions and take them to do their homework and answer them at a future meeting. Alderman Funkhouser stated this would be a public/private partnership and there are several different ways to approach this which need to be looked at. Alderman Kot stated the purpose of this committee is to be a fact finding committee and to explore all the options. Alderman Kot stated the packet is outdated and wanted to know when the committee can see current numbers. Mr. Bobbitt said there are a few changes to make for instance a gym to a field house and there are three different phases of construction. He stated the YMCA doesn't want to get into a contract stating they will cover certain things and have trouble with memberships etc. Alderman Funkhouser said if there is a shortfall if it didn't' work successfully and the YMCA backs out, the city would be stuck with a building and not prepared to operate as a city. Alderman Funkhouser said that is something the city will have to be prepared for. Mr. Bobbitt stated the YMCA is a very strong organization financially. He stated they have fund-raising ability to subsidize where we are short and if we fall short and can make up for it - there will not be a negative effect on the city if we follow through on the contract. He stated the YMCA would not get into this if they didn't have every intention of making it successful. Mr. Ron Greenleaf, owner of Anytime Fitness asked how is the city looking at how this will impact the other businesses in the community that have similar services. Mr. Greenleaf stated he and his family are fans of the REC Center and the YMCA, but he wants to make sure they can all co-exist. Alderman Funkhouser stated there has been support from fitness companies and there is not any issue of the city running the REC facilities, but partnering with the YMCA, I don't know if they would feel the same. Alderman Funkhouser said this is something the city needs to consider and factor those elements in and the effect on other business. Brian from the YMCA Board of Directors stated that is something which was discussed. Brian stated the board is moving in another facility direction, so he asked given the choice, would you rather have one facility or the REC Center and another YMCA. Deb Horaz asked if the YMCA has any numbers together as of yet. Mr. Bobbitt stated in preliminary conversations with Mr. Olson, things have not come to that point yet, but it is something the YMCA is working on. He stated from 2006-07 the fee was between 2 and 6 million. Mr. Bobbitt said the 6 million is a more family friendly pool etc. Mr. Bobbitt said the initial phase would be a fitness center and kids zone, second phase pool, the third a gym or field house. Deb Horaz asked about the numbers and Mr. Bobbitt stated he can have those at a future meeting. Mr. Bobbitt said he has been exploring options in other areas of the country where the cities have contracts for YMCA's manage city owned recreation facilities with YMCA memberships. Alderman Funkhouser said the city would take the REC Center members and they would become YMCA members with an expanded service base and the YMCA would run operations of the city facility and meeting needs of both. Alderman Funkhouser said all of the Parks and Recreation are operating out of the REC Center and there are a lot of logistics to consider as to what is in the city's best interest. Alderman Funkhouser stated we need to see a basic plan in place as far as costs. Alderman Colosimo asked if this joint venture doesn't work out, is it still the intention of the YMCA to open a third facility near Yorkville. Brian from the YMCA Board of Directors stated yes. Alderman Colosimo said that could be positive or negative. Mr. Bobbitt said the phases are tied into the growth/fund-raising etc. and the first phase would take place within a ten year plan. The committee discussed if either the YMCA or city would have a negative impact on receiving grants if they were a partnership. Mr. Bobbitt didn't think it would prevent grants. Kelly Sedgwick asked how the monies would work out with the memberships. Mr. Bobbitt stated he couldn't get figures until he finds out more about the REC Center operations. Mr. Bobbitt stated all these figures/options would have to be worked out in the contract. Mr. Olson asked if the YMCA would take over the finances. Mr. Bobbitt stated that is an option. Chairman Funkhouser said the YMCA will now go back to the board and then come back to the committee and present their findings. Alderman Colosimo stated he understood this as the two options are either the YMCA pays the city a monthly flat fee and run it or the YMCA runs the facility as a joint venture and the city pays them to run the facility and then the city has some buy in to the membership fees and profits. Alderman Funkhouser said that is correct. Old Business: None. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Deb Horaz and seconded by Jackie Milschewski. Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lisa Godwin