City officials consider options on Copper Sky operator

The city council is scheduled to discuss Tuesday whether to continue negotiations with a third party to manage a new city recreation center.

Results of the discussion could decide whether the facility will be run by city staff or a third party – likely the Valley of the Sun YMCA. 

The center, being constructed at John Wayne Parkway and Bowlin Road, is part of the Copper Sky Recreation Complex scheduled to be complete in spring 2014. The complex will include the 52,000-square-foot multigenerational and aquatic center and a 98-acre park.

In December, the city requested bids from nonprofit groups and “nonprofit led teams which could consist of for-profit local partners” to enter into a partnership with the city for operation of the multigenerational and aquatic center. 

The city sent a letter to Valley of the Sun YMCA on May 13 informing the group an evaluation team had chosen the nonprofit as the recommended partner. A final agreement must be approved by the city council. 

According to a staff report, Mayor Christian Price requested the discussion be put on the agenda. 

Price said Wednesday the council discussion is scheduled to address concerns and provide clarifications on the process taking place, but he would not go into greater detail as negotiations about the operation of the center continue. 

The agenda item says council will discuss and possibly decide on one of two options: continue or discontinue negotiations for a third-party facility manager. 

The YMCA has proposed to operate the facility without using city funds – a move that would, according to the nonprofit, allow the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Maricopa to invest a $7.4 million offer from Ak-Chin in other areas.

Last month, Ak-Chin publicly announced to offer the city $7.4 million for the operation of the recreation complex while also presenting the Maricopa Unified School District with a $2.6 million offer. 

Negotiations concerning an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Ak-Chin for the $7.4 million are continuing, and city officials are scheduled to discuss the agreement in a closed session meeting Tuesday. 

Also in closed session, the council will discuss the possible agreement with YMCA. This closed meeting has been scheduled prior to the regular council meeting where the open discussion will take place. 

In a June 18 letter sent to the city council and Ak-Chin Chairman Louis Manuel from the YMCA, Jordan Rose, a YMCA board member, wrote the nonprofit group has a self-sustaining business model, and if chosen to operate the facility, the city and Ak-Chin could use the $7.4 million for other programs. 

Rose told InMaricopa.com this week that YMCA leaders thought this would allow Ak-Chin “to get more for their money.” 

YMCA supports itself through grants and membership fees, and provides no-cost memberships to people in need of financial assistance, Rose said. 

“The proposal is that we would pay for ourselves,” she said. “The YMCA will support the rec center fully and the taxpayers will have no contribution.” 

Whatever the council decides, city staff is preparing for both options – a city-run center or a third party manager. Tuesday’s agenda includes possible action on a revised Community Services Department, which adds staffing to the department because of the complex. 

A staff report details two staffing plans for management of the complex’s multigenerational and aquatics center. One plan details the needs of the city if a third party is chosen, and one plan details the needs of the city if the city chooses to run the center.