Report for City Council June 9, 2003 Meeting

Agenda Item No.: D.2.f. New YMCA Building in Downtown Core and City Needs (J. Batty). D

2 f Recommendation:  William Lutsky YMCA That the May 13, 2003, Community Services Community Centre? Department report be received for  Castle Downs YMCA information. Community Centre? 6. What is the status of the YMCA in Report Summary regard to previous financial support This report responds to an inquiry regarding from the City of Edmonton? a capital development plan proposed by the YMCA which includes construction of a 7. Does the City of Edmonton have any new YMCA in downtown Edmonton. formal policies or guidelines around partnerships with community Previous Council/Committee Action organizations to deliver municipal  At the April 15, 2003, City Council services that have been traditionally meeting, Councillor J. Batty made the 100% funded by the City? following inquiry: 8. How can the City of Edmonton support the community coalition “I understand the Edmonton YMCA is being developed by the YMCA to about to embark on a Community expand the provision of community Capital Campaign to finance the building and recreation services to the of a new YMCA in the city centre. residents of Edmonton’s central core 1. What were the findings of the City of and west end communities through Edmonton Community Services the new City Centre YMCA and the Market Assessment Survey expanded Jamie Platz YMCA Family conducted in September of 2001 with Centre? reference to the need for a new Please direct this report to the community recreation centre located Community Services Committee.” in the downtown core? 2. What program opportunities and  (Other previous Council/Committee housing needs will the YMCA action identified in Attachment 1.) provide for the city centre Report neighbourhoods? 1. The City of Edmonton Community 3. What will the possible impact be on Services Market Assessment Survey, the Kinsmen Sports Centre? conducted in September 2001, was to 4. What are the plans for the existing determine the level of public need and downtown YMCA? support for a new community recreation 5. What financial support has the City centre. A second objective of the provided in the past for: research was to determine the extent to which the need for such a centre could  Jamie Platz YMCA Community be satisfied by having a downtown Centre? location, versus a location north of

Routing: Community Services Committee Delegation: J. Tustian, L. Cochrane, E. Ehrman Written By: E. Ehrman May 13, 2003 Community Services Department File: 2003CSRF51rev (Page 1 of 3) New YMCA Building in Downtown Core and City Needs (J. Batty)

downtown. Highlights of the findings “community recreation centre” for the included: 71% of respondents supported area by 62% of those who have visited a the development and operation of a new facility in the last 12 months. Since this family-oriented, community, recreation Market Assessment in 2001, the centre, the respondents were split downtown has experienced an increase between whether the facility should be in residential development of located in the downtown core or north of approximately 1300 units. the city centre (74% vs. 75%). 4. The current downtown YMCA will be 2. The program opportunities for the city redeveloped to include expansion of centre neighbourhoods proposed by the housing units and relocation of the YMCA include: day care services for 48 employment and education programs children, child minding for up to 100 (Enterprise Centre) currently occupying children at a time and enhanced leased space on 104 Street and 102 accessibility to low or no cost programs Avenue. for children and adults for families in 5. The financial support the City has need (anticipate 20% of membership will provided in the past to: require financial assistance). Through their community based and outreach  1990 Jamie Platz, the City provided programs in inner city neighbourhoods, land, a provincial recreation grant of the YMCA proposes after school drop-in $324,00 and a $1.8 million interest programs, preschool and enhanced free loan with a 20 year repayment recreation opportunities for older adults. timeline. The total cost of the project was $5.9 million. Through the redevelopment of the current downtown YMCA (10030-102A  1997 William Lutsky Family Avenue), the YMCA proposes to Community Centre, the City increase their housing inventory by up to provided land, $1.36 million from 20 units, focusing on transitional municipal funds and $3.2 million of housing for women and families. capital funding from the Canada/Alberta Infrastructure 3. The Community Services Department Program. The total capital cost was anticipates that construction of a new $7.8 million. health, recreation and fitness centre in the downtown core will have a financial  1998 Castle Downs Family impact on the Kinsmen Sports Centre. Community Centre, the City An anticipated loss in attendance is provided land and a $3.6 million expected to be in the daytime “at work” grant from municipal funds. The market because of the need to travel to total capital cost was $7.2 million. Kinsmen vs. the convenience of a 6. The status of the YMCA with regard to downtown facility. This anticipated loss previous financial commitments is that: is supported by the 2001 Market  The repayment of the Jamie Platz Assessment Study which indicated that loan is up-to-date. As of December Kinsmen is the most widely used

(Page 2 of 3) New YMCA Building in Downtown Core and City Needs (J. Batty)

31,2001 the outstanding balance is $4 million in financial support. This has $1,140,000. been identified in the Long Range  The Community Services Financial Plan and is currently in the Department is currently in discussion unfunded portion of the Capital with the YMCA regarding payment Priorities Plan. To raise the status of this of $279,129 due to the previous project would require that other projects revenue share agreement. in the plan be deferred.  The YMCA is presently Background Information Attached committed to a $5.175 million upgrading of the Jamie Platz YMCA 1. Previous Committee facility. Upon review of the finances Recommendations the City has agreed to waive the $3.0 Background Information Available on million cap of financing on the Request William Lutsky and Castle Down facilities to help finance these 1. September 2001, The City of Edmonton improvements. Community Services Market Assessment 7. Relative to formal policies or guidelines Survey, Executive Summary. for partnerships with community 2. Proposal to The City of Edmonton for organizations to deliver municipal The New City Centre YMCA, April 9, services that have been traditionally 2003. 100% funded by the City:  The Community Services Integrated Services Strategy, adopted by City Council, endorses the concept of partnerships for the purposes of providing services and facilities.  The Community Services Department is currently developing a Facility Master Plan, which will include a model to guide future partnerships in facility development.  The Community Services Department has a long history in development of facilities with community partners. 8. The YMCA has requested that the City of Edmonton support their $26 million Capital Development Plan by providing

(Page 3 of 3) Attachment 1

Previous Committee Recommendations

At the June 4, 2001 Community Services Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:

“That the May 11, 2001 Community Services Department report be received for information.”

This report provided the outcome of the Conceptual Design/Feasibility Study of an indoor/outdoor pool north of the city core.

At the November 22, 1999 Community Services Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:

“That the November 9, 1999 Community Services Department report be received for information.”

The report provided a status report of the conceptual design and outstanding recommendations of the report, A Strategy for Edmonton’s Outdoor Pools and Water Amenities

At the August 23, 1999 Community Services Committee meeting the following motions were carried:

1. “That the July 15, 1999 Community Services Department report be received for information. 2. That the Administration continue talks with the YMCA on a City Centre site and address the issue of any potential ways of financing.”

At the June 28, 1999 meeting of Community Services Committee Councillor Taylor made the following inquiry:

“The YMCA has recently met with individual members of Council, with a proposal for a significant downtown health, fitness and recreation development to serve Edmontonians, and has indicated a desire for the City to assist in this becoming a reality. In April, when City Council dealt with the “Outdoor Pool and Water Amenities Plan”, Council agreed:

‘That the Community Services Department be directed to prepare a conceptual design for an indoor-outdoor aquatic facility north of the City core, and pursue further partnership opportunities with Edmonton Northlands and 2001 Games.’

 At that time, the Community Services Department indicated that the Y.M.C.A. was proposing to expand its services in the City centre, and would likely be interested in a partnership with the City.

Attachment 1 - Page 1 of 2 Attachment 1

Previous Committee Recommendations

 I would request the Community Services Department to:  Provide an overview of the proposal by the Y.M.C.A. to the August 23, 1999 meeting of the Community Services Committee; and  Provide an information report to the Committee at that meeting evaluating the proposal in the context of Council’s direction, addressing, among other things:  How the proposal fits with or complements a new “indoor-outdoor aquatic facility” as presented in April; and Options as to how the City might proceed with this proposal.”

Attachment 1 - Page 2 of 2