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Item 2.
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| City Council Work Session | |
| Date: | 08/02/2021 |
| Title: | SBURA - Recreation Center Update |
| Presented by: | Mike Whitaker, Parks, Recreation & Public Lands Director |
| Department: | Parks/Rec/Public Lands |
| Presentation: | Yes |
RECOMMENDATION
The purpose of this presentation is to provide City Council with background and information on the South Billings Urban Renewal Association's (SBURA) efforts to develop a recreation center in the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD). SBURA is seeking authority to issue a Request for Proposal for conceptual architectural services on a multi-use sports and recreation center (see discussion below).
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
In 2018, Victors Advisors Inc. issued a report entitled "Yellowstone County Sports Facility Market Needs Assessment" that assessed the level of Billings residents' satisfaction with the recreational facilities available in Yellowstone County. Based on in-depth interviews with a host of user groups, Victus Advisors concluded that the residents of Billings were generally underserved with respect to the availability and quality of activities associated with indoor court space, ice rinks and aquatics. The report also provided benchmark data for similar facilities in nearby cities as well as recommendations for addressing these needs. As a follow up to the Victus report, SBURA commissioned A&E Architects to develop a Concept Development Plan that offered a series of options to construct a recreation and sports facility in the SBBURD adjacent to Amend Park. Concurrent with these reports, City Council approved $25 million in its Capital Improvement Plan for the construction of this facility plus an additional $1,125,000 for the purchase of land which the City exercised in 2018.
In late 2020, the SBURA board took the initiative to spearhead an effort to build a recreation and sports facility in the SBBURD and formed a special Recreation Center Facility Committee ("the Committee'') consisting of three board members and the SBURA consultant. The Committee used the aforementioned reports and sought out input from key community officials and user groups for purposes of consensus building on how to proceed with this effort. The Committee also sought out benchmark data from similar facilities in Cody, Gillette and Great Falls to help guide their decision-making. Lastly, the Committee assessed SBURA's cash flow needs with respect to current and projected tax increment finance assistance for purposes of determining the maximum amount of bond financing available to build a facility. At present, the key unknown in the Committee's efforts is the approximate cost of building a facility consisting of a recreational pool, a competitive pool. six to eight basketball (i.e., open area) courts and two indoor/outdoor rinks. The Committee believes that preliminary or "conceptual" architectural drawings will help determine the estimated cost and guide our efforts going forward. At the request of City administration, the SBURA board has approved a Recreation Center Concept Statement that details SBURA's vision for the facility and SBURA's role in its development.
In late 2020, the SBURA board took the initiative to spearhead an effort to build a recreation and sports facility in the SBBURD and formed a special Recreation Center Facility Committee ("the Committee'') consisting of three board members and the SBURA consultant. The Committee used the aforementioned reports and sought out input from key community officials and user groups for purposes of consensus building on how to proceed with this effort. The Committee also sought out benchmark data from similar facilities in Cody, Gillette and Great Falls to help guide their decision-making. Lastly, the Committee assessed SBURA's cash flow needs with respect to current and projected tax increment finance assistance for purposes of determining the maximum amount of bond financing available to build a facility. At present, the key unknown in the Committee's efforts is the approximate cost of building a facility consisting of a recreational pool, a competitive pool. six to eight basketball (i.e., open area) courts and two indoor/outdoor rinks. The Committee believes that preliminary or "conceptual" architectural drawings will help determine the estimated cost and guide our efforts going forward. At the request of City administration, the SBURA board has approved a Recreation Center Concept Statement that details SBURA's vision for the facility and SBURA's role in its development.
STAKEHOLDERS
Essentially all of the citizens of the City of Billings have the potential to be stakeholders in this effort.
ALTERNATIVES
This presentation is intended to update the City Council on SBURA's recreation center efforts with the intention of securing permission to issue an RFP for conceptual design services. Council may approve the issuance of an RFP or may direct SBURA to take alternative action.
FISCAL EFFECTS
This presentation is intended to be informational, therefore there is no direct fiscal impact. Future actions, including the approval of design services, are estimated to cost between $200,000 and $250,000 and would be funded with tax increment funds.