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Cary Town Council Work Session Minutes

Room 10035, 316 N. Academy St. , Cary , NC

September 23, 2008

Subject:  Aquatics

Present:  Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Council Members Gale Adcock, Don Frantz, Erv Portman, Jennifer Robinson and Jack Smith.

Mayor Pro Tem Julie Robison participated by conference call

Mayor Weinbrecht called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.

Mary Henderson of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department provided council members with an aquatic project update and a letter from the YMCA regarding their interest in a partnership on aquatics with the Town of Cary .  (A copy of the aquatic project update information is attached to and incorporated herein as Exhibit A; the YMCA’s September 23, 2008 letter is attached to and incorporated here in as Exhibit B.)

She also provided council with the following aquatic project time line:

August   2000 – Feasibility Study ( Enterprise Plan) Report

            Programming Options presented with support for:

–       50-meter competition pool

–       Indoor recreation/fitness pool

–       Outdoor recreation pool

            No site identification or discussion

December 2000 – Final Study ( Enterprise Plan) Completed

            At Council Direction, long course (venue model) added as requested and funding for study options contributed by State Capital Sports Center ( SCSC )

–       Long Course Training Facility

–       Indoor Leisure Pool

–       Outdoor Leisure Pool 

–       Venue Facility 50-meter competition pool

            No site discussion or identification

April 2003 – Voters approved Bond Referendum for General recreation, including aquatics.

Summer 2003

–       Triangle Aquatic Center, Inc. ( TAC ) requests Town consider partnership

July 2003

–       Council appropriates $5 Million for FY04

April  2004 – Enterprise Plan Updated

–       Community Center Option Added for consideration

–       Pros and Cons discussion of partnership opportunities with both SCSC and TAC

–       Site Discussion with Preliminary Analysis

                  North Cary Site

                  Weston site selected by SCSC

                  TAC ’s site

Council directs staff to move forward with resolution requesting Hotel Occupancy & Prepared Food & Beverage Tax funding for project

•       May 2005 - $10 million in matching funds approved from Hotel Occupancy and Prepared Food and Beverage Tax receipts

•       June 2006 Work session

–       Staff reviews project including full range of programming options discussed to date in preparation for July work session with consultant 

•        July 2006 Work session

–       Consultant reviews and compares options: national venue, regional venue, baseline venue, TAC partnership

Council direction for staff to meet with TAC and bring issues related to a partnership to work session

•       September 2006 Work session

–       TAC Partnership concept presented along with a comparison of all options

–       Concept plan presented for TAC partnership and Community Center option at North Cary Park

Council requested additional information related to a regional venue & clarification of issues related to TAC partnership

•       October 2006 Work session

–       TAC partnership issues discussed

–       Options discussed with concept plans shown at North Cary Park site

Additional information requested by Council

•       November 2006  Work Session

–       Council approved project scope to include:

A regional aquatics venue (Indoor 50 Meter Pool; 1,000 Spectator Seats; Indoor Recreation Pool; Outdoor Recreation Pool)

–       Appropriated $10 million in funds from the general fund fund balance to support the project

–       Conditioned the approval upon receiving a firm commitment and fundraising plan covering a minimum of $5 million in capital from the private sector

–       Directed staff to focus the site selection process on either the parcel across from the North Cary Park or any other 15 acres plus parcels in the general vicinity of the north Cary parkland. 

•       April 2007 – Work session -Council amended the November decision and directed staff to revise the scope of the aquatics community center project to include:

–       A $13.5 million base community center pool

–       A $4.3 million outdoor aquatic facility

–       $6 million community recreation component

•       Provides opportunity for efficiencies in design and operations.

•       Shared lobby area and locker rooms for “dry side” and “wet side” areas.

–       Combined cost would be roughly $23.8 million (72,000 SF)

Recommended that in order to expedite construction and maximize cost savings, staff should focus on the North Cary site and the Hawes tract

•       September - December 2007 – 3 Public meetings Held for programming and site input; PRCR Advisory Board review and recommendation

•       January  2008– Work session

–       Consultants Present Program and Site Recommendation

Council directs staff to select additional sites in closer proximity to downtown and conduct analysis.

•       February – July 2008 

–       February 23 Work Session cancelled

–       YMCA Partnership discussions held.

–       TAC presents partnership proposal

Mike Curran of the Triangle Aquatics Center ( TAC ) presented his proposal for a partnership on aquatics with the Town.  (A Copy of Mr. Curran’s PowerPoint Presentation is attached to and incorporated herein as Exhibit C.)

Mr. Curran said that even though TAC has a footprint for recreation, they don’t have the ability to build a recreation component anytime in the near future. He said that TAC has partnered with USA Swimming's "Make A Splash" initiative which offer free or reduced swim lessons to eligible children in the community.

Mr. Curran said that a fitness recreation element would initially complete TAC ’s mission and provide recreation facilities for Cary citizens. He said that an alignment between TAC and the Town of Cary would make it easier to add the recreation component; otherwise, TAC will not be able to do so for at least five years. He said that looking to the future it may be possible to add a diving well, another 50 meter outdoor competition venue, and a park. 

Mr. Frantz asked about the cost for the indoor recreation component. Mr. Curran said it is approximately $6-$8 million. 

Mr. Frantz asked about the cost for Cary citizens to use the facility if the Town partnered with TAC . Mr. Curran said that the micro level details would be worked out as part of an operating agreement.  He said other municipalities provide a reduced cost for residents. 

Mrs. Robinson asked how TAC would handle people passing between the competition pool and the recreation component. Mr. Curran said they would have to determine how that would be managed.

Mr. Portman asked if anything can be done to augment amateur athletics. He said there may be some extra cash available for Cary when the county reassesses their revenue streams.  He said he would like Cary to be in the position to claim that money (perhaps to be used for a diving well) before it’s reallocated. Mrs. Robinson recommended that council focus on the recreational component and discuss the diving component at a later time.

Mr. Smith said he is interested in a public/private partnership to address the issue of basic recreation and a basic pool. He said that the private sector has taken the initiative and the Town now has the ability in a cost-effective way to take care of a perceived need in Cary for recreational swimming.

Mr. Frantz said that the recreational components in Mr. Curran’s proposal meet his three concerns:  centrally located, less than $25 million, and no annual operating loss.  He said that diving should be addressed separately. 

Mayor Pro Tem Robison said she is open to looking ahead to the recreational component at the TAC facility and looking into a diving well.  She said she would like information on the operating arrangements and costs to Cary citizens.

Mrs. Adcock asked about the associated amenities. Mr. Curran said that they have overbuilt the locker rooms and showers so additions to those wouldn’t be needed, and they already have a snack bar. 

Mr. Portman said there are benefits to Mr. Curran’s proposal.  He said that he would also like to pursue indoor/outdoor diving so that the Town would be in a position to request the hotel/motel meals tax money from the county.

Mrs. Robinson said that the hotel/motel money is for new projects that bring in new visits.  She said it is also for projects that have regional draw and she doesn’t think a recreational pool has regional draw. She said they might be able to ask the county for $4 million specifically for diving, but that it is not dependent on the decision for indoor aquatics. Mr. Frantz added that the diving well has to be able to stand on its own in order to qualify for the competition regional draw. 

Mr. Portman said he would like to get information in the next 30-60 days so that council can decide whether to make a claim for the money.  Mrs. Robinson said she doesn’t believe that council’s decision on recreation is dependent on their decision on a diving well. 

Mrs. Robinson asked council if they wanted staff to work on the micro details regarding the operating agreement, costs to citizens, where the money would come from, and how it would affect the budget.  Council members said yes.

Mr. Portman said he would also like staff to look at and provide data on indoor and outdoor recreation and diving from a cost standpoint. Mayor Pro Tem Robison said she would also like to receive that information.  Mrs. Henderson said that the Town has a design team on contract that can work with Mr. Curran to come up with those numbers. 

Mayor Weinbrecht directed staff to bring the requested information back to council within 30-60 days so that council can make a final decision. 

Mrs. Robinson said they should have a separate meeting to discuss the hotel/motel tax money.  She said that work session should occur before the next aquatics work session and will help them make a decision on aquatics. 

Mr. Coleman said that he will meet with County Manager David Cooke to determine the likelihood of using the hotel/motel tax money for the diving well.  He will provide that information at the hotel/motel work session.