2007-11-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 Ms. Elizabeth Kutchai, 126 Bollingwood Road, said that more than three quarters of the users of Smith and Crow are non-City residents. She said the City is meeting the County’s needs and the City needs to stop shouldering the County’s responsibility. She said user fees should be raised for non-City residents. A CHS student, 1538 Oxford Road, said she is a swimmer and is against the YMCA plan. She said the middle class may not want to join the YMCA. Ms. Naomi Roberts, 1140 St. Clair Avenue, spoke against the YMCA in McIntire Park. She said we need our parks. She said the City has not kept up with its aging infrastructure. th Mr. Mark Saunders, 419 4 Street, N.E., the parent of competitive swimmers, said the YMCA proposal offers a rare opportunity. He said they offer great aquatics and fiscal responsibility. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Dr. Brown noted that the proposal is for the County to donate money, the City to donate land, and the City and County to each provide an additional $1.25 million for additional swim lanes. He said that if the City and County are giving the same amount of money why is the City not getting half the priority. Mr. Krueger said he agrees with Dr. Brown’s math, but he said if the County does not get priority they will likely not provide the funding and the facility will be put in the County and the County will get all the prime time. He said these terms are going to have to be negotiated, but he understands Dr. Brown’s point. Ms. Hamilton noted that the proposal mentions the County providing $2.03 million plus $1.25 million, but it does not mention the City’s donation of land. Mr. Krueger said the YMCA recognizes that the land donation is significant, but he is not sure what the land value is. Mr. Lynch said that locating the YMCA in McIntire Park has the potential to work if the YMCA can work as an auxiliary of the City and it saves the City money. He said it has to work for the CHS swim team to be a viable proposal, at least six lanes are needed for them, and they need to have the 4 – 6 p.m. time slot or two hours at the discretion of CHS. He said if there is not a clear advantage to the City he does not see the point in locating the YMCA in McIntire Park. He suggested looking at the punch pass issue more closely. He said it is way under priced now. He said we should increase the cost and ask the YMCA to do the same. Mr. Krueger said the YMCA needs to be able to cover its operating costs so they do not have to come back to the City for operating money. Mr. Lynch said we also have to get the transit piece in place which will be an additional cost. Mr. Krueger said there are a lot of needs beyond competitive swimming in the community. Responding to a question from Mr. Norris, Mr. Brown said that if Council approves the lease on first reading, negotiation will begin, and it can be amended on second reading. Mr. Taliaferro said he has concerns about the proposal. He said the swimming issue is one. He said the City was originally told that giving priority for CHS students would not be a problem. He said he does not think the City is adequately represented on the YMCA Board, and he thinks it will take awhile to get there. He noted that the YMCA did not want to make the City and County Parks and Recreation Directors ex- officio members of the Board. He said we do not know the cost, how much land is needed and where it would be sited. He said he does not think a lot of people will present