Politics & Government

City Holds Closed-Door Meeting to Discuss YMCA Negotiations; Results to be Told Next Week

City officials met Wednesday evening behind closed doors at the end of a meeting that lasted about four hours.

Updated 8:38 p.m. Friday Nov. 7.

No reportable action was taken during a closed-door meeting Wednesday between the City of Imperial Beach City Council, City Attorney Jennifer Lyon, City Manager Gary Brown and Assistant City Manager Greg Wade.

The city has been in talks with the YMCA since the spring. Publicly announced closed-door meetings to discuss negotiating "price and terms of payment" with the YMCA began in September and continued Wednesday evening.

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"No action was taken," said City Attorney Jennifery Lyon, but "an announcement will be made next Wednesday highlighting the next steps in this process which will include meetings with interested parties and a public workshop before any decisions are made."

By the time the results of the closed session meeting and negotiation was announced, there were only four members of the public left in City Council Chambers.

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The final City Council meeting of the year will be held Dec. 12.

The city has expressed interest in turning over the property to the YMCA since it may save the cash-strapped city $200,000 annually, said City Manager Gary Brown.

Sports Park employees and some of the young people who use the rec center have criticized the plan since YMCA prices may turn some young people away at what is effectively IB's only place for teens. The group called for the creation of a citizen advisory board to make a recommendation about what to do with the property, an idea that has not yet been entertained by City Council.

The Imperial Beach Little League and Imperial Beach Girls' Softball leagues are critical because they believe a YMCA may mean the end of youth baseball in Imperial Beach.

Should the city should have spoken to its citizens before negotiating the possible sale of the Imperial Beach Sports Park and Recreation Center? Share in comments.

Correction: The original version of this article stated that a YMCA representative was part of negotiations at the Nov. 6 closed-door meeting however only city staff and City Council were present at the meeting.


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