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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2002sp SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 6, 2002 4:30 PM MAYOR'S OFFICE/COUNCIL WORK AREA PROPOSED COMMUNITY CENTER Minutes I. Call to Order Mayor Lewis called the special meeting to of the Auburn City Council to order at 4:30 PM in the Council Work Area located in the Mayor's Office at Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA, 98001. Mayor Lewis and the following Council members were present: Rich Wagner, Jeanne Barber, Trish Borden, Fred Poe, Sue Singer, Stacey Brothers and Gene Cerino. Staff members present included: Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, City Attorney Daniel B. Held, Recreation Coordinator Rick Bruya, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. Mr. George Frasier, YMCA Director, was also present. II. Introduction and Purpose of Meeting Mayor Lewis began the meeting by explaining the purpose of the meeting which is to update the Council on the status of the community center proposal and discuss future direction with respect to the proposal. III. Discussion of Proposed Community Center A. Community Center Advisory Group Findings on Desired Functions Councilmember Poe reviewed the Community Center Advisory Group's survey findings. The survey findings demonstrated that among the over 600 community members and Auburn residents who responded to the Group's survey, there was overwhelming support for: 1. The development of an Auburn community center. 5pec~a~ t;~ty L;ounc, r~eet~ng Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 2 2. The use of public funds to develop a community center in Auburn. 3. Development of a partnership between the City of Auburn and private or non-profit organizations involving funding and operations of an Auburn community center. Councilmember Poe then reviewed the program and facility survey findings. Listed below are the Auburn citizen recommendations for programming and activities for a proposed community center with the supporting facility elements in descending order of priority: PROGRAMMING FACILITY ELEMENTS 1. Swimming Family aquatic center Locker room and showers 2. Fitness Family aquatic center Multi-use gymnasium with a walking track Dance/Aerobic room Cardio equipment room Weight training room 3. Youth/Teen After School Multi-use gymnasium Family aquatic center Dance/aerobic room 4. Basketball Leagues Multi-use gymnasium Locker room an showers 5. Teen Late Night Family aquatic center Multi-use gymnasium Weight training room Art and craft rooms Small meeting room (25-50) Large meeting room (51-100) 6. Summer Camps Multi-use gymnasium Family aquatic center Art and craft rooms Small meeting room (25-50) Large meeting room (51-100) 7. Holiday Events/FestivalsArt and craft room Small meeting room (25-50) Large meeting room (51-100) 8. Computer Lab Small meeting room (25-50) 9. Community Banquet Multi-use gymnasium ~pec~a~ c~y L;ouncH Meeting Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 3 /Event Room Large meeting rooms Supporting staging kitchen Councilmember Wagner noted that the survey revealed strong support for all activities and elements. Councilmember Poe noted that the community banquet/event room was not in the survey but was added as a result of forum discussion and comments. Councilmember Brothers inquired whether the Advisory Group's survey included any question on the issue of membership dues. Councilmember Cerino recalled that the survey included a financing question to reveal citizens support for a bond issue or other public funding to develop a community center. Councilmember Cerino did not recall a survey question specifically dealing with membership dues. B. Fundamental Needs of the City of Auburn Councilmember Wagner presented the fundamental needs of the City of Auburn related to a community center. Councilmember Wagner noted that the needs were articulated by Councilmembers Poe, Borden and Wagner as a starting point for negotiations with the YMCA. The fundamental needs include: 1. Les Gove Park is the location for the community center portion of the facilities. 2. The Advisory Group's report would be honored; for example, the cooperative facilities will include: a. Swimming, including family-type elements as well as exercise elements. b. A multi-use gymnasium large enough for community gatherings (200 people). c. City ownership of at least a portion of the facility, though some operations may be contracted. 3. The City program content and the "Y" program content will not compete with each other. ~pec~al L;Ity L.;ounCll Meeting Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 4 4. There will be an overall increase in recreation programs for Auburn citizens due to the investments in the new capital facilities. Councilmember Brothers inquired whether operating costs and the portion of staffing and resources the City will contribute towards operating costs would be addressed. Councilmember Wagner explained that the presentation this evening will focus on capital costs. The City's contribution towards operating costs has not been determined. Council briefly discussed the "no competing" need for both the City and the YMCA. C. Potential Site Locations, Layouts, and Construction Costs Councilmember Wagner explained that as he and Councilmembers Borden and Poe began their negotiations with the YMCA, it was learned that Boeing might make a major land donation to the YMCA from their property located on 15th Street SW. Two scenarios were developed. Scenario B assumes Boeing gifts the property on 15th Street SW to the "Y'; Scenario C assumes no land gift from Boeing and all "Y" and community center functions would be located at Les Gove Park. Councilmember Wagner displayed site plans and costs for each scenario. Scenario B includes the potential Boeing site on 15th Street SW where the YMCA would be located. The proposed land gift from Boeing consists of approximately 20 acres. There is an existing 27,000 square foot building on the site. In the addition to the existing building, a new 43,000 square foot YMCA would be constructed including a family aquatic center, full size gym, some meeting space, parking, and potentially some ballfields. Scenario B also includes the use of the existing "Y" site at Les Gove Park consisting of approximately 4.5 acres. Scenario B proposes the conversion of the existing "Y" building for a gym and multi-purpose room with parking and a staging kitchen. The existing "Y" property would come back under the ownership of the City. Facility elements and functions for each location under Scenario B are as follows: ~peclal L;Ity ~Jouncll n~eetlng Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 5 SCENARIO B 15TM Street Functions Les Gove Park Functions Cost: $10.6 Million Cost $3 Million without options Family Aquatic Center 2/3 Size Gym/Large Meeting Space (where the pool now exists) 1 Full Size Gym 1 Full Size Gym Showers and Lockers Showers and Lockers Multi-Purpose Space Staging Kitchen Family Center Office Space Teen Center Meeting Space Child Watch Space Additional Parking Licensed Child Care Space Facilities for Day Camp and Park Use CV/Weight Rooms Optional: Renovate/Add Softball and soccer fields Office Space Tennis Courts Ball fields with additional parking Councilmember Cerino noted that an aquatic center is much different than a "swimming pool." An aquatic center offers a variety of aquatic-based recreational, instructional and health programs that may incorporate the use of slides, wave and shallow depth pools as well as other design features. Councilmembers discussed the disposition of ACAP in both scenarios. Councilmember Wagner stated that ACAP prefers to stay in its current location for now. Scenario C assumes Boeing does not make the land donation to the "Y" and all community center activities are combined at the Les Gove Park site. The scenario calls for converting the existing "Y" building into a 50,000 square foot building. Parking would consume all existing parking areas and intrude approximately 50 feet into the park. The scenario provides for the continued existence of ACAP at the Les Gove site. Facility elements and functions for Scenario C are as follows: ~pec~a~ L;~[y L;ounc, Meeting Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Pag~ 6 Les Gove Park Functions $10 Million Without Options FamilyAquatic Center TwoFull Size Gyms/Multi-purpose Space Showers and Lockers Staging Kitchen Family Center Teen Center Child Watch Space CVNVeight Rooms Office Space Meeting Space Additional Parking Facilities for Day Camp and Park Use Optional: Renovate/add Softball and Soccer Fields i Chair Borden noted that there are some challenges with Scenario C related to storm drainage facilities, additional parking, and the ability to expand facilities. Councilmember Wagner advised that Ownership under Scenario C would include some kind of joint ownership. Councilmember Poe noted that the disadvantage with Scenario C is that the YMCA would need to be relocated for a year during demolition and construction. Councilmember Singer commented in favor of Scenario B and preserving the green space at Les Gove Park. She also favored Scenario B because the City would take over ownership of the "Y" property at Les Gove Park and assure ACAP's current location at Les Gove Park. D. Value Considerations Councilmember Wagner led the discussion regarding values that Auburn citizens will receive in Scenario B as follows: 1. 15% YMCA membership fee discount for Auburn residents ~pec~a~ u~ty ~;ounc, Meeting Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 7 a. Value per year = $192,000 b. Value over 20 years - $3,800,000 c. Assuming 6.5% of the 46,000 households that are within a five mile radius choose to join the "Y' (3,000 households); and that 60% of those people will be Auburn residents (1,800 households, double the current members). Councilmember Wagner explained that the percentage (6.5%) of households joining the "Y" was determined based on the national average of 10%. The percentage of Auburn residents was based on an actual analysis of current "Y" membership. Councilmember Brothers expressed concern with the projected membership, citing Auburn residents' average income level and that the amount of the YMCA's dues may be prohibitive for some families in Auburn. Councilmember Cerino pointed out that when the YMCA constructed a new facility in the Grays Harbor area, their membership increased dramatically. 2. Acquire the Y property at Les Gove Park a. 4.4 acres of land (192,000 sq ft) assessed at $532,00 b. 12,000 sq ft building assessed at $489,000 c. Total property value (probably will appraise higher) = $1,021,000 3. Additional Values (specifics can be determined later) will range from $100,000 to $500,000 total per year: a. Family aquatic center group use several hours per week b. Teen night activities c. Teen programs for non-members d. Added financial assistance for Iow income people due to larger facility. e. City operational costs reduced, for example contracting with the Y f. Legal liability exposure reduced for the City of Auburn g. Potential expansion of Les Gove Park into the current Y site h. ACAP could remain in their location with minimum disruption special L;ity L;ounc~I Meeting Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Page 8 i. Access to ball fields at the 15th Street Y site. Councilmember Wagner explained that values would be based on a 20- year working agreement with the YMCA. Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber presented ball field development costs. Based on a five-acre site, property acquisition is estimated at $1 million and construction costs at $600,000. Mayor Lewis stressed that any transaction must be in accordance with State law, and meet with the approval of the State Auditor's Office and the Attorney General to ensure that it passes the test for use of public funds. He cautioned that if the transaction does not pass the test for use of public funds, Councilmembers and other officers of the City could be held personally liable. Mayor Lewis also suggested a public vote may be an alternative. He cautioned against utilizing membership discounts in the calculation of value received. City Attorney Dan Held presented the Council with excerpts from the Washington State Constitution and Revised Code of Washington relating to the City's credit not to be loaned and misconduct of public officers. City Attorney Heid also advised that the City could have liability exposure for those times the City utilizes the YMCA's facilities. In addition, if the City is in a participation role with the "Y", the City could have additional liability. Mayor Lewis suggested preparing the City's value considerations and submitting them to the State Auditor for comment. Mayor Lewis urged the Council to look into additional options for value consideration and work with him, the City Attorney and the Finance Director to develop a proposal for submission to the State Auditor for review. Councilmember Poe suggested looking at what other cities have done to justify contributions towards such facilities as Benaroya Hall, and how those contributions were viewed by the Auditor's Office. E. Project Schedule Councilmember Borden presented the Council with the timeline for the community center proposal. One of the first important timeline dates is April 30, 2002, which is the deadline for the YMCA to obtain a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Auburn and provide the necessary information to Boeing for a determination on the land donation. special I,.;ity l;ounciI I~eet~ng Proposed Community Center March 6, 2002 Assuming, the land donation from Boeing is realized, the next step would be for the City to purchase the "Y" property at Les Gove Park and contract for some services from the YMCA. Planning and design for facilities at 15th Street SVV and at Les Gove Park would run simultaneously. The YMCA anticipates construction of their new facility on 15th Street SW by March 2003 with construction taking approximately one year. The City would then begin construction at Les Gove Park in 2004 with construction taking approximately one year. Mayor Lewis expressed appreciation to Councilmembers Borden, Poe and Wagner for their efforts on the community center proposal. Several Councilmembers spoke in favor of Scenario B which calls for a YMCA facility on 15th Street SVV and a City-owned community center at Les Gove Park. Councilmember Poe reiterated the Mayor's comments to reconvene a citizens forum for planning the community center at Les Gove Park. IV, Adjournment There being no further ~iscussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:01 PM. APPROVED THE /~'~':'~-- DAY OF APRIL, 2002. Pete~ B. Lewis, Mayor Danielle Daskam, City Clerk 2002mO3-O6special Proposed Comrn Cntr