Published: March 14, 2008 10:11 am         

MAC expansion details hit draft stage

EDMOND — The Parks and Recreations Board, Edmond Public Schools and the Edmond YMCA met for a special workshop Thursday to discuss the first draft of a Central Operation Plan for the possible future facility at the Multipurpose Activity Center in Mitch Park.

The city’s portion of the MAC now houses the Edmond Senior Center and the Parks and Recreation Department’s administrative offices. A new facility could include a fitness center, two to three pools, two gyms and designated family areas, said Steve Commons, assistant city manager.

He said the draft plan is based off a similar agreement between a California YMCA and a city. The operations of the current facility at the MAC will not be included as part of the agreement, Commons said.

If the three entities sign an official agreement to be partners in the expansion, each would commit $6 million to the project for a total of $18 million. The city also would provide the land and $160,000 for a concept plan, which would assess the financial feasibility of the project.

“We were trying to start to find out if there are deal breakers and what those deal breakers are,” Commons said.

He said the possibility of an agreement between the three entities came about because the city needed a recreational facility, the schools need a pool and the YMCA needs a new health and fitness facility. In the draft, the YMCA would continue to be a membership-based organization while providing a single day access fee for residents who do not want to sign up for a YMCA membership.

“Do these other entities get to share in the excess funds?” asked Dennis Shockley, Parks and Recreations board member.

Kelly Kay, chief operating officer of YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, said it is a nonprofit organization and the funds they receive from access fees would pay for long-term maintenance and their debt on the facility.

“The goal is to recover the cost as much as possible through activities,” Commons said.

He said he added a few minor concepts that were discussed at the previous Parks and Recreation Board meeting, including areas for a small group of spectators in the gyms and vinyl flooring and the potential of moveable dividers in the fitness rooms.

He said the YMCA would be the general operator of the new facility.

“The city will own the building with long-term leases with the school and YMCA,” Commons said.

The YMCA would work with the city to have the facility available for health- and fitness-related community activities.

Several board members expressed concern about how the YMCA would handle scheduling conflicts that are bound to happen with the number of programs the entities have together. Commons said it is in everyone’s best interest to coordinate so they can avoid duplicating programs and give the community more variety of activities.

Bret Towne with the Edmond Public School district said the schools currently are renting spaces for swim competitions at the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University and the Edmond YMCA. He said they would need access to a pool five days a week for at least four hours each day from the middle of September through the middle of February.

Commons said the schools would have priority of right of refusal for the usage of a pool because that’s the only interest they have in signing an agreement.

Kay said the YMCA also has a large aquatic program but their peak times should not conflict much with Edmond Public Schools’ needs.

“We also envision having multiple bodies of water,” he said.

Kay said there is a possibility of having two pools and a warm water pool for senior citizens.

Commons said it also is possible that one gym would be designated for city use and one designated for YMCA use and each would have priority of right of refusal for the usage of their designated gym.

“If we continue down this path and are still working towards something, the feasibility study needs to be next,” Commons said.

He said the study probably would take five to six months.

Commons said the entities need to discuss any concerns or additions to the provisions in future meetings. Shockley pointed out that once the agreement is signed by all entities and approved by the Edmond City Council there is no backing out.

     

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