HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/05/2009 05B Minutes 04-07-2009 Council Aquatic Center Executive Committee Meeting Aquatic Center Executive Committee Meeting
April 7, 2009
CED Conference Room
Present: Dave Edler, Kathy Coffey, Mike Leita,,Mike Nixon, Dick Zais, Chris Waarvick, Michael
Morales, Cindy Epperson, Ken Wilkinson, Tracy Bennett and Lynn Quesenbury
I. Call to Order. Chairman Dave Edler called the meeting to order and briefly told those
present that purpose of this meeting was to bring the committee together and make sure
everyone was up to date.
II. Updates
Citizens Advisory Committee. This committee met with Council Members Edler,
Coffey and Cawley in February and reviewed progress to date.
Construction Costs Estimates and Projections. Ken Wilkinson said he had forwarded
the revised 2012 cost estimates to a contact at Counsilman Hunsaker, a nationally
• known recreation designer /contractor, for review. He expects to hear back from him
this coming Monday. USKH estimates construction costs for 2012 will go up about 7 %.
There is some concern that this figure may be high in light of current conditions.
Proposed RFP Components Discussion. Ken Wilkinson said he had reviewed the
contract for the Boise aquatic center and identified a number of elements to be
incorporated into a Yakima RFP. A list of these items was included in the committee's
packets. One of those items is $125,000 for annual compensation for the operator which
the committee discussed for a while. Responding to a question from Mike Leita,
Wilkinson said the intent is to have an RFP prepared and ready to go when it is needed.
Michael Morales suggested what is needed now is a Request for Qualifications rather
than a Request for Proposals to determine the applicant's ability to operate an aquatic
center before seeking the actual proposal. Dick Zais said it is important to answer
questions about the cost for operation before taking the issue out for a public vote.
PFD Funding Status. Kathy Coffey reported on a conversation with Selah Mayor Bob
Jones. Selah has an active swimming community but their pool is 50 to 60 years old.
Jones wants to maintain a community pool that Selah's children can walk to. The
possibility of attaching a Selah project to an aquatic center PFD has been suggested.
Jones would likely be more willing to support an aquatic center if the total package
Aquatic Center Executive Committee Meeting • April 7, 2009 • Page 1
offered some direct benefit for his community. PFD projects, Dick Zais said, are limited
to those costing $10 million or more. The group talked about the availability of SEID
money for a Selah or Union Gap project since Yakima County's SEID dollars are already
encumbered for the jail. Mike Leita said there might be a possibility of going to the State
Legislature to negotiate a "window" period when money might be directed for another
purpose. Coffey suggested the lodging tax might be another possibility.
Selah and Union Gap City Councils Status. Mike Leita said the partner cities need to
have a sense of ownership. Chris Waarvick noted Union Gap prefers the Boise Cascade
site. Selah, he said, is less definitive and wants to look at what might de done with its
own facilities. Leita suggested recruiting Selah and Union Gap citizens to serve on the
Citizen Advisory Committee.
III. Aquatic Center Bullet Points Discussion. Mike Leita suggested changing the first
question to include the cities of Selah and Unions gap as well as Yakima. The group
asked if these are the questions that need to be asked and answered. There was
discussion about the topics including daily fees, which Mike Leita thought were too low,
and the city subsidy for aquatics. Dave Edler asked for two admission fee revenue
projections - one with no subsidy and a second including the two existing city pools,
again with no subsidy. Kathy Coffey asked how much does it cost to keep Lions and
Franklin Pools up and running.
IV. Site Determination. Kathy Coffey reported on meeting she and Michael Morales had
attended with the Boise Cascade site developer. He has suggested moving the proposed
site for the aquatic center to the north to approximately where the tunnel under the
freeway lies. This would place it near the site's water source, provide a Greenway
linkage and allow people access via 1st and R Streets. Coffey said the developer's design
team is on board and working to make sure all the proposed elements have locations
that best meet their needs. Dave Edler said the site needs to be selected and a document
declaring the donation of that site needs to be formalized before moving the proposed
aquatic center to a more public arena. Mike Leita said the Fairground location
previously proposed is no longer an issue.
V. Study Session Components. The purpose of the April 28 study session needs to be
clarified. What questions do the Council members want answered? Chris Waarvick
identified two: are Selah and Union Gap on board and can project operating costs and
revenues be guaranteed? Mike Nixon suggested establishing a list of pool users who
would be affected if Lions and Franklin Pools are closed. The committee discussed the
Aquatic Center Executive Committee Meeting • April 7, 2009 • Page 2
levels of commitment and unity that would be needed to move forward with the
election and the project
VI. SWOT Session Objectives. Ken Wilkinson said this meeting would include members of
the Citizens Advisory and Executive Committees and would help identify strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to an aquatic center. Mike Leita
suggested inviting representatives from the proposed partner cities to participate.
VII. Aquatic Center Critical Path. Referring to a chart included in the meeting packet, Ken
Wilkinson said this is a model suggesting steps in the process of moving toward
development of an aquatic center on a relative timeline.
VIII. Next Steps. Ken Wilkinson suggested a random community -wide survey to get a
measure of community support for an aquatic center. Dick Zais said he wants a survey
that is neither too simple nor too complex. Before drafting a survey, he said, answers are
needed to questions like the site, construction costs, operational costs and the status of
current pools. He also said he is cautiously optimistic and that keeping Franklin and
Lions Pools open might be persuasive. If Yakima assumes the underlying risk, will Selah
II/ and Union Gap see the value of a joint venture? PFD funding, he continued, has the
capacity to pay for both debt service and operations as times change and improve. He
has seen this happen with the Convention Center.
Kathy Coffey suggested sending study session notices to the partner city councils and
interested parties. Mike Leita warned the committee the county is planning an initiative
vote for 2012.
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Approved by:
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Dave Edler, Chair
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