Adhoc Committee for Rec Facility Minutes 2012 01-18-12
APPROVED W/ CORRECTIONS
1/30/12
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
Ad Hoc Committee for Recreation Facility Alternatives
Committee Meeting
City Hall Conference Room
Wednesday, January 18, 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 Ward 3
Larry Kot, Alderman Ward 2
Debbie Horaz, Park Board Member
Ken Koch, Park Board Member
Quorum established
City Officials Present
:
Bart Olson, City Administrator
Other Guests
:
Ron Walker, REC Center
Amy Cesich, Raintree Village
Tony Scott, Record Newspaper
PURPOSE:
The intent of this Ad Hoc Committee is to openly investigate,
evaluate and analyze other options and scenarios through which the recreational
programming needs of the City can be met. This committee will report these
findings back to the City.
Citizen Comments
:
Amy Cesich said the committee knows how she feels about the REC Center and what she
would like to see what happens with it. Her main purpose for attending is to see what the
committee comes up with for Plan B to see if it matches up with what is already in place.
Ron Walker thinks negotiations are going well and said Mayor Golinski has been very
gracious in meeting with him and in going back-and-forth with negotiations. Mr. Walker
feels the current offer on the table is still a very positive way to go. He also expressed his
concern that the city is not making recreational programs a priority. He’s afraid that even
if he gave the facility away, it would still come down to a 4-4 vote, with the mayor
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breaking the tie; and that, as someone who’s lived in the community for 40-some years,
somewhat offends him that the city consider that department as a little bit more of a need.
Previous Minutes
:
Since this is the first meeting of the committee, there are no previous minutes.
New Business:
Recreation Facility Alternatives
: Chairman Funkhouser made it clear to the committee
that their purpose is to look at alternatives in lieu of purchasing the REC Center in case a
Plan B or Plan C is needed. Currently, there are 200+ classes being offered; rent is
$18,000/month; some of the previous venues for classes are no longer available.
Mr. Koch said the city has lost several of the buildings it had been using for recreational
programs prior to the Rec center (former Post office, Beecher center) are no longer
available for use.
Mr. Funkhouser said the city has no ability to build a new center, but Mr. Kot said such a
plan wasn’t out of the question for the future. Mr. Kot suggested the immediate need will
be met by an existing vacant building that could be rented or something the city doesn’t
own that could be worked out. He was not opposed to looking at what it would take to
build something to suit the city’s needs.
Mr. Olson said a “safe estimate” to construct a similar facility with similar amenities
would be in the $5 million to $6 million range. Mr. Funkhouser said that would probably
fall under the category of Plan C or Plan D. Several suggestions were made regarding
partnering with the school district; along with a suggestion to invite a member of the
Yorkville School District to attend the next meeting.
The question of taxes came up and Mr. Koch said people are concerned that if the Rec
Center were to close, they’d be paying just as much in taxes for fewer services.
Mr. Funkhouser reiterated that tonight’s meeting was a “broad picture” for brainstorming
ideas and repeated they would like to have a School District member present to talk about
their ideas.
Mr. Kot would like a snapshot of what the city was doing before they moved into the Rec
center. He would like the know the programs they were offering; a rough number
attendance-wise; how many people were participating; what age groups; number of staff;
that type of thing. Mr. Olson said he could print out the staff stats and probably find a
catalog from the time period prior to the Rec Center.
Ms. Horaz wanted to see comparisons of where they were; what they did in the interim;
and where things are now with the Rec Center, along with an idea of available parcels of
land. Mr. Koch would like to see a list of rental spaces available, possible foreclosure
space, etc., to take another look of what’s ‘out there.’
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Mr. Funkhouser asked Mr. Walker how large the area would be if the pool were not
included. Mr. Walker said it was around 4,000 square feet (not including rental
properties).
Mr. Walker also pointed out that those who visit the Rec Center aren’t just from
Yorkville, but communities from all over the Kendall County area, including Oswego,
Sugar Grove, Plano and Sandwich.
Mr. Walker asked if the aldermen were 100% against any funds from the General Fund
money going toward the facility from June, 2013 going forward? Mr. Funkhouser said he
cannot say 100%, for one, there are still ongoing negotiations; and secondly, they cannot
say what the future will hold. The ideal situation is for recreation to pay for itself without
pulling out of the General Fund.
Ken Koch asked if he was free to share the information of this Ad Hoc meeting with the
members of his Park Board meeting tomorrow night. Ms. Horaz said she thought it
should be shared with them and staff. Mr. Funkhouser said it should be as open as
possible.
Adjournment:
The next meeting is Monday, January 30, 2012. It was agreed that Monday’s work best
for a number of the members of the committee. The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Bonnie Olsem
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