After passionate public input from local residents, the Imperial Beach City Council will vote June 5 to determine the fate of its Sports Park complex.
City Council will consider whether to enter contract negotiations with the South County Family YMCA or a proposal by a coalition of local groups and Boys and Girls Club of South County.
Despite near unanimous opposition from the public, City Manager Gary Brown recommends City Council direct staff to enter contract negotiations with the YMCA.
Claiming the city no longer has the money to manage the Sports Park, city staff began discussions last April with outside entities like the Boys & Girls Club of South County and South County Family YMCA to run the facility on Imperial Beach Boulevard.
A YMCA deal would likely cost the city $50,000 a year and save more than $100,000 a year, a staff report released Thursday said. If approved, the city would seek a five-year contract with the YMCA with the option to renew every five years for 15 years.
Critics of the plan say membership fees would be too expensive for Imperial Beach residents. 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.
The YMCA would have the power to change prices without city approval, Williams said, but scholarships would be made available to people who cannot afford standard membership costs.
The Imperial Beach City Council first attempted to vote whether to enter contract negotiations with the YMCA in March, despite a promise made months earlier to hold a public workshop before any decision was made.
Dozens of citizens spoke in opposition to a YMCA deal, many of whom said they felt the city had already decided what to enter a contract with the YMCA.
Noting a lack of public input, City Councilmembers delayed the vote and a public workshop was held in April. City Council and more than 100 people attended.
All but two speakers voiced opposition to a deal with the YMCA.
Though many agreed that some kind of change should be made, of more than 30 public comment and questionnaires submitted at the meeting, none were in favor of a YMCA deal.
Several respondents suggested the city delay a decision and form a Parks and Recreation Committee to explore the city's options.
In light of comments made during a workshop, city staff recommend that any contract signed with the YMCA should include the following:
- no charge to Imperial Beach Little League and Imperial Beach Girls Softball for field use
- IBLL and IBGS maintain priority use of baseball and softball fields
- no charge for use of the Skate Park for skaters under the age of 18
- scholarships will be provided for people who cannot afford YMCA fees
- the city will provide $10,000 a year toward scholarships for people who cannot afford YMCA fees
- YMCA cannot limit access to the playground, picnic benches or grass in front of the Sports Park from the general public
- current Parks and Recreation staff will be guaranteed an interview to be part of YMCA staff at the Sports Park
The Imperial Beach Sports Park Collaboration, a group that formed after the workshop, includes the Imperial Beach Little League, Imperial Beach Girls Softball, I Heart IB and others.
Instead of YMCA management, a proposal put together by the collaboration would like the Boys & Girls Club of South County. A nonprofit or endowment may be established to raise money for the Sports Park.
A deal with the Boys & Girls Club of South County would cost the city approximately $50,000 a year, said CEO Ken Blinsman, an Imperial Beach resident.
The collaboration believes Boys & Girls Club management could bring more services at a lower cost than what the YMCA can offer.
See a copy of the June 5 meeting agenda, proposals by city staff and the collaboration and comments by local citizens attached here in PDF form.
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