Snoqualmie City Council hears concerns about Ridge community center
March 9, 2010
By Dan Catchpole
NEW — 3:15 p.m. March 9, 2010
A group of Snoqualmie residents are asking City Council to take a closer look at a proposed agreement with the YMCA of Greater Seattle for operation of a future community center.
The group presented a range of concerns to the council at its March 8 meeting, including the cost of the project, safety issues and potential impacts on traffic and parking.
Based on these concerns, the council should more closely examine the agreement and its potential ramifications, several residents said.
“If any of these concerns existed by themselves, they would not be enough to delay or derail this action. But when I see this much uncertainty and lack of details…it starts to smell to me,” said Marcus Morisette before the meeting.
The agreement would put the YMCA in charge of running and maintaining a community center on Snoqualmie Ridge.
The center would be 9,500-13,000 square feet after its first phase, which is expected to cost around $4 million and include a meeting room, half-sized gymnasium, fitness facility and youth room. A future phase estimated to cost $10 million would include a pool.
The city’s plan is to have the YMCA build the facility, which Snoqualmie would then buy from the group and lease back to it. The YMCA would then operate the community center.
Several residents asked for more financial transparency, questioning if the city would have enough money to pay for the facility’s first phase.
The agreement will be considered at the council’s Parks and Planning Committee March 15 meeting. The meeting has been moved to Snoqualmie Fire Station to allow for extended public comment.
After that it will go back to the City Council, which can vote on it at its March 22 meeting.
Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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