10-19-1998 - Workshop
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9HE CITY OF ED9EWATER
POST OFFICE BOX 100-EDGEWATER, FLORIDA 32132-0100
Mayor Randy G. Allman
District 1 Councilman James K. Gornto
District 2 Councilman Myron F. Hammond
District 3 Councilman Gary W. Roberts
District 4 Councilwoman Judith R. Lichter
Interim City Manager Kenneth R. Hooper
City Attorney Nikki Clayton
City Clerk Susan J. Wadsworth
October 15, 1998
-PUBLIC NOTICE-
The City Council of Edgewater will hold workshop sessions with McKim & Creed at 6:00
p.m. and Wayne Bostic at 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 19,1998, in the Community Center before
the regular City Council meeting. The purpose of the workshops are to receive updates on the
Reqeation Complex project from McKim & Creed, and the YMCA from Mr. Bostic.
:lizm
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
104 NORTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE
(904)424-2404 FAX-(904)424-2409
OGEWATER -- YMCA
WORK SESSION
October 19, 1998
1. Update of Fund - raising
2. Edgewater/YMCA Contract Must Address the
Following:
a) Name of Entity
b) Privatization Fee ($50,000)
c) Liability/Insurance •
d) Schedule for Use of Facility
e) Review and Control of Programs
f) Ownership of Property and Facility
g) Competition with Existing Businesses,
(Aqua Park; Fitness Centers)
3. Schedule a Public Hearing
i
YMCA vs. CITY OF EDGEWATER GYM
By: Ron Prekup, Sr. (Just my opinion)
During the clean sweep campaign in Edgewater during the last election, the previous administration was
replaced due to lack of response to needs and desires of the citizens of Edgewater, along with super bad
communications and bad attitudes towards taxpayers and business owners, etc.
Mayor Randy Allman promised voters that he would work to enhance the recreation department within
the city and do something for our youth.
Although the Gymnasium concept was not in the works at that time, there definitely was not anything in
the works for a YMCA.
It was not until surplus money was found in the budget that taxpayers and newly elected officials were
completely not aware of, that talks started regarding building a gym and recreation hall in Edgewater.
The next thing everyone knew, a partnership with the YMCA and Edgewater was in the works without
any type of polls or surveys regarding what the taxpayers thought.
I strongly feel that a combined effort with the YMCA and the City of Edgewater would be a bad idea
for the following reasons:
#1. It would be a direct conflict with AQUA PARK which is operated within the City of Edgewater.
It would affect this man's business to the point where it possibly could put him out of business. Tax
money from citizens of Edgewater should not be used to have the city go into competition with local
businesses, such as a swimming pool operation operated by the YMCA.
#2. It is important to note that belonging to the YMCA is not free, but cost each family several
hundred dollars. (According to the Observer Newspaper a family would pay about $500 per year
membership). In addition to the yearly membership, each class or function costs extra. We already pay
taxes in Edgewater for recreation, and feel that paying for membership in the YMCA, plus pay for each
function or class our children or adults take part in is extra, then we also have our regular taxes to pay
on top of that. If this is not double or triple taxation, then nothing is.
#3. Original plans called for a two story building with the gymnasium on the bottom floor, and a
recreation room upstairs with a kitchen for functions such as rentals, senior citizens parties, etc., etc.
Most everyone became excited about this idea and many calls were made to Mayor Allman expressing
their backing of this type of endeavor and praised him about his promise to the voters to do something
for the children of our city.
#4. If this partnership ever did develop, you can bet your bottom dollar that it would be completely
controlled and run by the YMCA, and not the city of Edgewater. Whenever senior citizens and
residents of the city wanted to book the recreation hall for a function, it would not be the same as if the
City of Edgewater controlled it by themselves.
#5. We all understand that if a gymnasium is build in the city by the city and for the citv that we
will have to provide a full time recreation director to set up various sports, functions, controls, etc. As
in New Smyrna Beach and almost all cities, families pay for each function that their child takes part in,
and this is a normal and routine understanding by most everyone. Cities such as Port Orange to the
North have a fabulous recreation program, and they run separate from the YMCA functions in the same
immediate area. New Smyrna Beach also runs their own recreational programs which Edgewater
children take part in.
#6. On an issue of this magnitude and importance to the city, it should be a decision made by the
citizens/voters in Edgewater, and not by just a few. Why couldn't it be put on a referendum in the up
coming election in November ?
#7. In talking to many people in Edgewater regarding the YMCA being part of the City of
Edgewater's plans for a gym, I have not talked to the first person that was in favor of this partnership.
Additionally, the City of New Smyrna Beach kicked this idea around for several years and evidently did
not want anything to do with this type of partnership, or it would of become a reality years ago. If it
was such a great idea, they would of done it before.
I strongly urge the city to completely scrap the entire plans of doing anything with the YMCA,
and build the gym for the City of Edgewater entirely on their own. There are just too many
question marks, and uncertainties with the YMCA partnership. We need to do this project on our own
for the citizens and youth of Edgewater - In that way it will be something we all can be proud of, and
most of all our own.
Thank , 44
Ron Prekup, Sr.
Registered Voter & Taxpayer of Edgewater