Updated 11:08 a.m., March 18 to include the latest information on negotiations between the city and Imperial Beach Little League.
The City Council next week will discuss whether to give its Sports Park, skate park and athletic fields to the South Bay Family YMCA for a $1 a year lease.
Though Imperial Beach City Hall has discussed turning over the facility to a private service provider for almost a year, this would be the first public hearing on the matter.
Staff will present City Council with four options between proposals made by the Imperial Beach Little League, YMCA and city staff.
Proposals and counterproposals have been made. Negotiations between the city, Imperial Beach Little League (IBLL) and YMCA that started last December are ongoing.
On Friday the IBLL proposed that they pay no per player or field use fees suggested by the YMCA, the city pay for all utilities and the IBLL pay no more than $3,500 a year for maintenance or repairs, according to Assistant City Manager Greg Wade.
Money to run the Sports Park makes up about 1.2 percent of the city’s annual budget, according to administrative services director Kathleen Von Achen. City staff and City Manager Gary Brown on March 6 recommended Sports Park be cut from the city’s 2013-14 budget.
The city plans to turn over operation of the facilities to the YMCA in exchange for more sports leagues, classes and services for local residents as well as more than $100,000 in savings.
That’s not the way everyone sees the deal.
The Imperial Beach Little League, Imperial Beach Girls Softball, Sports Park employees and teens who frequent the youth center have told the city and IB Patch the change would put fees out of reach for some residents and could take away a place to be—a safe haven.
In comparison to the current $25 annual fee for users of the gym charged by the city, under YMCA control, young people and their families would be charged for use of the skate park, gym and little league and softball fields.
Children ages 5-11 may be charged up to $96 and youth 12-17 could be charged $150 a year for membership fees, according to South County Family YMCA Executive Director Tina Williams .
No membership fee is currently proposed for adults.
Skate park users who do not purchase an annual membership would be charged a day rate.
Baseball and softball players would be charged $25 per player per season.
Under the YMCA's proposal, use of lights would also cost $25 an hour and the leagues would be required to give 20 percent of all concession stand and other proceeds raised to the YMCA.
The city has offered to absorb lighting and concession stand fees for both leagues, a cost estimated to run the city about $15,000 a year.
Other costs to the city to complete the turnover include an estimated $54,000 to resurface the gym floor and $80,000 to fix the Sports Park facility roof.
Fees will not be finalized until the City Council determines whether IB wants to sign an agreement with the YMCA, Williams said.
Changes to the fee structure would not require city review, Williams said.
To join the nearby Border View Family YMCA, people ages 13-23 pay about $250 a year in membership fees and a one-time $50 joining fee, according to the YMCA website. Children 12 and under pay a flat $70.
Nearly one in five IB residents lives below the poverty line, compared to averages of 12.3 percent and 13.7 percent in San Diego County and California, respectively, according to 2010 Census data.
“Our fees are based on what it costs to operate the programs, and then we always provide scholarships for kids, adults or seniors who can’t afford it so we try to serve as many people as we possibly can in the community,” Williams told IB Patch.
YMCA management would mean the facility may remain open for longer hours and weekends, she said. Operating hours and weekends have been cut under current city leadership.
The elimination of redevelopment agencies was the primary reason the city says it has to forfeit control of the Sports Park.
“Though the effort to balance the city service and infrastructure needs with adequate administrative and staff support in the face of limited revenue has always been a challenge for the city, the loss of redevelopment greatly exacerbated the challenge,” a staff report said.
Information provided by the city in the March 20 agenda says the Sports Park costs the city $200,000 a year. City Manager Gary Brown has also repeatedly quoted a $200,000 savings figure.
However, following efforts to increase revenue and reduce costs last year, Von Achen, the city’s administrative services director, determined the cost is much lower.
In a review of the city’s 2013-14 budget earlier this month, Von Achen said the Sports Park costs IB $144,000 annually. If the city absorbs annual lighting costs, savings would be reduced to $129,000.
In part by cutting Sports Park staff and fees, the city anticipates a $178,000 surplus in the coming fiscal year, Von Achen said.
Before a new budget was adopted last June, the city started looking for a private entity to operate the Sports Park.
The YMCA was selected after nearby Calvary Church was considered incapable of meeting the city’s demands and the Boys and Girls Club of South County would cost the city an estimated $180,000.
The Boys & Girls Club ran the facility until 1998.
Boys & Girls Club of South County CEO Ken Blinsman disputes the cost presented by the city.
"The Boys & Girls Club proposal would have cost the city $50,000," Blinsman told IB Patch.
The city has spent $1.7 million in improvements to the Sports Park facility since 2000, primarily in redevelopment funds, according to a staff report.
To see the staff report, proposals and counterproposals and a list of increased offerings if the YMCA takes over the facility, see the attached PDF.
What do you think City Council should do? Share in comments.
re-read your own comment? call spade a spade? psychos and weridos? your the one with threats I have live here all my life also... And will be will be at the city council meeting will you?
Just have a closer look at the benefit before you make a call. Plus you have had the YMCA in ib for a long time camp surf... I don't see that hurting property values....
The sad part is your most likely right ... Its sad that people are still not thinking about quality program for the KIDS
Yes Dennis, two people who "might" agree on some things some of the time that YOU disagree with MIGHT just be some sort of CONSPIRACY and us two just MUST be the same durn person, right? You so smart. I give up, you're on to me. Pulling chocks ...
Just wanted to thank you for continuing to follow up on this issue. As usual, you've provided Patch readers with another easy-to-follow, fact-based, well-sourced narrative... which makes some of the comments above even more puzzling and troubling.
I AM NOT A BOARD MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE. Like you said..."Don't be fooled people!!"
I too am speaking. I have not nor do I currently serve on the board. I am just a simple volunteer and team mom.
http://www.cityofib.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={70AE3D7F-AE06-4F3C-B3E3-0A0362B126DE}&DE={A9A803BD-94EE-4351-9D32-2206F9A3AE07} Link to document on City's website that includes the following statement: 3. City Council will hold at least one PUBLIC WORKSHOP (emphasis mine) to hear the public's ideas about Sports Park. Quick civics lesson for the comment trolls, a "public workshop" is completely different than a City Council meeting.
"5. It's the City Councils goal to keep the Leagues and GENERAL PUBLIC (emphasis mine) well informed about the discussions with the Y and to make sure the tentative agreement and decision making are transparent to all." http://www.saveibball.com/correspondence.html Putting aside the whole "Yes on Y" vs "No on Y" debate, the City has failed in their pursuits of a transparent decision making process and city-wide input.
Let me talk numbers for a moment, real numbers and how it will affect some real kids: I have 3 kids- 14, almost 12 and almost 4 The annual fees, as proposed by the Y would run $300 alone. Additionally the programs would be $43-65 each. In comparison the City of Coronado Parks and Rec department has a $0 annual fee, and you pay for the programs that you want to be in. For example a 6 hour, certified babysitting class during Spring Break is $135 for non-residents (and probably one of the most expensive classes due to the Red Cross certifications). Let's look at Little League. I haven't looked at their books so I can't talk their financials. Like I said I am a simple team mom. Right now my youngest, the almost 4 year old, is on a team. The cost for the season $50. Some of the things that fee covers: equipment (which wears out regularly), the lighting, the maintenance including having a fund for large scale maintenance. Oh yeah, there is this little thing called Liability Insurance. $50 is beyond reasonable, especially since they give scholarships for those who need it without requesting the family's full financial disclosure. So let's see how the Y would affect one family. Would my kids be able to get greater services? Nope. I will go to the Coronado Park and Rec and pay the additional $10 non-resident fee.
Would I like to keep that money in Imperial Beach? In a nutshell, YES! Is there ways that the city could improve programs to help the kids, YES. Is the Y the answer - no.
I'm sure the Y appreciates you advocating for their cause here on Patch; and I'm sure the Y would appreciate it if some of their loyal supporters, like yourself, would attend next Wednesday's City Council meeting. Either way... HAVE A NICE DAY!
Simple Answer: Because all the other recs are getting money from their city to help provide the classes, leagues, etc. Growing up, my dad always used to tell me "you can want in one hand and sh@t in the other and see which one fills up first"...
City of Coronado Population (2010 Census): 18,912 Recreation Budget FY2012-2013: $2,471,000 Recreation Funding Per Capita: $130/resident City of San Diego Population (2010 Census): 1,322,553 Recreation Budget FY2012-2013: $85,971,850 Recreation Funding Per Capita: $65/resident City of Imperial Beach Population (2010 Census): 26,324 Recreation Budget FY2012-2013: $267,258 Recreation Funding Per Capita: $10/resident Recreation Budget FY2013-2014: $0 Recreation Funding Per Capita: $0/resident Any complaints about staffing, hours of operations, programming concerns, etc should be taken up with Sports Park management. Their offices are located at: 825 Imperial Beach Blvd (not 425 Imperial Beach Blvd) Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Coronado http://www.coronado.ca.us/egov/documents/1348765436_71256.pdf San Diego http://www.sandiego.gov/fm/annual/pdf/fy13/vol2/v2parkandrec.pdf#page=3 Imperial Beach http://www.cityofib.com/vertical/sites/%7B6283CA4C-E2BD-4DFA-A7F7-8D4ECD543E0F%7D/uploads/FY_2011-13_Approved_Budget_6-15-11.pdf http://www.cityofib.com/vertical/sites/%7B6283CA4C-E2BD-4DFA-A7F7-8D4ECD543E0F%7D/uploads/03-06-13_Last_Minute_City_Council_Meeting_Agenda_Information_No._1_(Item_No._6.1).pdf Simple Google search of the 2010 Census for each respective city
Your attempt at trying to establish that there's a huge public outcry for programs such as "Dance classes, Mommy and me classes, soccer, gymnastics, etc..." is feeble, not supported by fact, and is overshadowed by your previous comments on this subject... which up until now, had never mentioned programming, but did include the following gems: 1. You stated that the YMCA has a great track record of providing youth programs "with less embezzlement than the current sports leagues using the park now" 2. You claim "the leagues are run by thugs" 3. You said "one thing I have noticed on these message boards. Is that people who use their actual names are Psychos and weirdos" 4. You claim "people speaking out agaisnst the Y are little league board members that will be accountable for the money they steal now.", and "They are protecting their cash cow." You clearly have a dislike for the current leagues occupying the ball fields and it now looks like you have a beef with the rec center staff. You claim that these groups are intimidating "people from speaking out with the truth." For the last 5 years, I've been one of the most well-informed and civic-engaged residents in the City of Imperial Beach. That's why I would love for you and some of the other "Parents Here in town" to attend Wednesday's City Council meeting and let me, and all the other "Psychos and weirdos" who use their real name, in on "the truth".Until Wednesday... HAVE A NICE DAY!
The deal with YMCA has absolutely nothing to with "increasing programs for everyone". It's all about money! It's not about the City's inability to put "MORE MONEY" into the Sports Park...it's about the City's alleged inability to provide "ANY MONEY". (As seen by the proposed budget presented to City Council on March 6th. No deal finalized with YMCA, and Sports Park already unfunded) The City owns the land and structures at Sports Park. But a majority of the land at Sports Park was deeded to them by a very generous family with the conditions that 1. the land always be a "park", and 2. if at any point the City decided they no longer wanted a "park" on this parcel, the deed to the land would be reverted back to the original family. So, if we are to believe that the City is so bad off that not a even a single dollar can be allocated for the Operations and Maintenance of Sports Park, then the only way to keep from having to give the land back to the original owner, is to find somebody willing to "operate and maintain" the park at no cost to the city. That's where the Y comes in...it's their willingness to "operate and maintain" the Sports Park at no cost to the City, regardless of programs. There is no disputing that the YMCA provides an extensive assortment of quality programs and services across the United States. But that's not why the City wants to give them the keys.
there are no problems at the sports park except that it is not supported by the city... let's be very clear - there are no crimes, lawsuits, excessive expenses, or any reason for the city to close the sports park... the government has made it clear it doesn't want to provide services for the people - which means all of our tax dollars go to wasteful spending at the top... the people have two choices - remove the kids from this city or remove the government from this city... the government has taken their stand - all for them and nothing for the people...