Will my taxes go up if the Community/Aquatic Center is built?
No! No existing taxes will go up and no new taxes will be created. In addition, the City will incur no new debt.
How much will it cost to build?
Construction costs: about $30 million. The YMCA will contribute at least $5 million and the City will contribute $25 million, drawn from a portion of existing parks capital funds and financial reserves. In addition, the Y will pay for equipment and furnishings for the facility.
Who will pay for annual management and maintenance costs?
The YMCA will cover all annual maintenance and operating costs.
Is the City giving the land and building to the YMCA?
No. The land and the facility will belong to the City of Sammamish.
Where will the City's $25 million for construction come from?
$14 million will come from the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Fund. The City Council, in an effort to free capital funds for the community/aquatic center, shifted some other parks capital projects to later years, beyond 2015. The remaining $11 million comes from unrestricted reserves.
At the end of the next biennial budget, December 2014, the City now projects reserves of more than $19 million (given new fourth quarter 2012 forecasts), after building the community/aquatic center. Some of that includes contingency funds for various potential emergencies. So far, the City has never used any contingency funds. The unrestricted portion of the $19 million, about $14 million, is more than four times the annual Operating Budget Strategic Reserve, or "rainy day" fund.
Shouldn't the City pay off it's debts before building the new community/aquatic center?
The City has very little debt. Sammamish has earned a AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor's due to solid financial practices.
Ten years ago, the City borrowed $4 million to purchase and develop the Lower Commons Park, west of City Hall. That bond will be paid off this coming December.
To improve 228th Avenue, just after incorporation, the City borrowed $10 million from the state's Public Works Trust Fund at an interest rate of half a percent. $4.8 million of that debt remains. It will be paid off in 2021. At half a percent interest, and given the cost of money, the City has no incentive to pay off this debt early.
In addition, by law the City has the right to increase property tax revenues by 1% a year. 2013 will mark the fourth year in a row that the City Council has declined to take that increase. The City has, by state law, the right to take up to a 6% utility tax. Sammamish is one of only two Washington State cities to decline that option (Shoreline is the other).
The fact is that Sammamish is the only city in the state, and among very few nationally, that could provide such a valuable parks and recreation asset as a community/aquatic center, without raising anyone's taxes or incurring any debt and yet remain the most financially sound city in the state.
What user fees will be charged for the community/aquatic center?
First, the $25 million investment from the City, along with the $5 million investment by the Y, are construction costs. That investment will not cover annual maintenance and operating expenses. Regardless who operates the facility - the Y, the City, or some other third party - user fees would be necessary to cover on-going annual operating and maintenance costs, similar to how almost every other full-service community/aquatic center is run around the country. Even if the City built the community/aquatic center without Y support, they would have to contract or otherwise pay someone to run the facility. The Y brings with them more than 140 years of experience operating community centers, something neither the City or nor any other third party group could match.
The Y will operate and maintain the facility and charge fees similar to other local Y facilities. There are varying levels of membership fees including youth, teen, adult, senior, couple, and family. Day use fees will also be available. As a non-profit, the Y uses fees for staffing, programs, and maintenance. Some programs will be discounted to Sammamish residents.
Scholarships for needy families and seniors will be available.
A Y membership in Sammamish will give our residents access to the 13 other Y facilities in the greater Seattle area. The Away Network gives members access to Y's across the USA.
For more information on Y membership, you can visit the Greater Seattle Y membership page here.
What about families and seniors who can't afford even the Y's low membership fees?
While different branches can vary, about 25% of Y members ask for and receive financial assistance because they could not afford to participate without financial support.
Will there be adequate reserves left to protect the city against unexpected events?
Sammamish has established an "Operating Budget Strategic Reserve" of 10% of the annual Operating Budget, a "rainy day" fund. After building the community/aquatic center, the City will still have more than four times the "strategic reserve" fund available in reserve. In addition, unlike other local cities, such as Redmond and Issaquah, Sammamish derives a large majority of its operating budget from relatively stable property taxes, not more volatile sales taxes.
Why does the City want to partner with the Y?
Beyond bringing a significant amount of money to help pay for construction costs and to provide equipment and furnishings for the facility, the Y has 144 years of experience operating and maintaining community centers. They are a non-profit, which means that all fees will go back into keeping the facility maintained and to providing staff and programs. In addition, the Y provides a full spectrum of programming for all ages. It certainly is a plus that they have long experience in operating aquatic centers. And they are the best fit for the City's goal to keep costs low for citizens.
Couldn't private business provide these services?
The purpose of having the Y operate the community/aquatic center is to provide well-rounded, affordable recreational services and facilities to all citizens while also encouraging connections between neighbors and civic involvement throughout the community.
Private athletic clubs usually have different priorities and are typically designed for healthy adults to work out. They are often less affordable for the general public. They are typically not as good at serving kids, families, seniors, and disabled citizens. While some people will prefer the club atmosphere of a private athletic facility and are willing to pay more for it, it is the goal of the Y to be accessible to all citizens.
Won't the new community/aquatic center run local fitness clubs out of business?
There is no evidence for this. The community center/YMCA serves kids, families, seniors and disabled citizens. The Y provides a wide variety of programs of all kinds, serving the whole community.
The private fitness clubs primarily serve healthy adults wishing to work out in a club environment. In addition, one local club features indoor tennis, an activity not provided for by the Y.
A few years ago, some city staff and councilmembers visited new-community center/YMCAs in metro Denver. Beyond touring the Y's facilities, they also visited local private fitness clubs. They specifically asked whether they had been negatively affected by the new local YMCAs. The answer in every case was no.
Metro King County has 13 YMCA facilities, plus the Northshore, Bothel Y now operates the Woodinville recreation center. All over the area served by these facilities there are dozens, if not hundreds of private fitness options, including 5 Gold's Gym fitness centers, 10 24-Hour Fitness locations, and many, many other choices.
It's "apples and oranges." The Y provides so many programs and acitivities that the private fitness clubs don't want to provide -- can't provide -- and at a cost that families can afford.
Should we choose to forego having all of our third graders learn to swim, having "silver sneaker" social and fitness programs for seniors, or all the other activities for the whole family that the Y provides, because one local private, adult fitness center operator thinks they might possibly be competition? We can't imagine that civic-minded citizens in Sammamish would think so. We urge you to vote Yes!
Will citizens or local organizations be able to use the Y for meetings or events?
Yes. The community, multi-purpose rooms will greatly expand meeting space options for local citizens groups in Sammamish.
Will there be programs and activities in which non-members can participate?
Yes. All residents will be able to participate in many programs and use some parts of the facility whether or not they have a membership. Program or rental fees my apply in certain instances. Beyond any special programs, day use fees will allow citizens to use all the main parts of the facility, including fitness areas, gyms and pools.
Are there examples of City/YMCA partnerships elsewhere in the state or country?
There are many such partnerships around the country. Locally, a smaller scale community center was recently completed in Snoqualmie. Local grants and taxpayer funds were used for construction; the Y maintains and operates the facility. In Woodinville, a community recreation center was built, and after unsuccessfully operating it from their Parks and Recreation Department, a contract was signed with the Y for maintenance and operation, that contract was just extended by the city. Woodinville Mayor Bernie Talmas claims that was the best decision they could have made. The Y maintains the facility properly, provides many more programs for the community, and has greatly increased membership.
Regionally, the Sherwood, Oregon community center was built using taxpayer funds; the Y maintains and operates the facility.
What is the history behind a Community/Aquatic Center in
Sammamish?
In public surveys conducted in 2006 and 2010,
Sammamish citizens indicated a strong interest in an
aquatic/community center. Respondents indicated that they would prefer an
indoor facility to be located near City Hall with a fitness center, sports
courts or indoor walking track, and a multipurpose gymnasium. Most
notably, when asked what type of project should be funded if only one type was
possible, a significant majority selected a community and aquatic center
In direct response to that interest, the City of
Sammamish embarked on a feasibility study for such a facility. In early
2011, the City Council approved selection of a consultant who, in turn, hosted
a series of public meetings to discuss our hopes, dreams, and fears.
After doing site analysis, market research, and reviewing focus group results,
the consultant presented the City Council with a proposal that reflected the
community’s stated desires.
Unfortunately, the price tag was almost universally
considered too hefty: $44 million for the building and another $20
million for related road improvements and an underground parking lot. To
go forward with that plan would have required both a very large contribution
from City reserves and a hefty Bond of up to $40 million paid for by
significantly increased property taxes. To operate and maintain the facility would have required significantly higher user fees and/or a Levy that also would have increased property taxes.
Looking to lower the cost, the City Council reduced the
scope of the building and found a partner, the YMCA of Greater Seattle, to
share the cost of construction, provide equipment and furnishings, and take on
all maintenance and operating costs. In addition, the city set aside a
portion of the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Fund - $14 million - to
help fund construction of the facility and identified other unrestricted
reserves so the facility could be built without any new taxes or debt.