HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquatics Center Site Public Comment from the Ridge 6-10-14Statement to the Bozeman City Commission
Prior to this meeting of the Bozeman City Commission—during which the Commission will consider
whether or not to proceed with an aquatic center, the location of the center, and the possibility of the
City collaborating with the YMCA—we were asked for our opinion about the process.
I have been a member of the advisory committee for the City’s Parks and Recreation Board, have
followed this issue closely, and I am in favor of an appropriate aquatics center for Bozeman, even
though water features are expensive and are almost always a cost center. In addition, The Ridge
Athletic Club, of which I am an owner and the General Manager, supports an appropriate aquatics
center for Bozeman.
As you know, I strongly support the historic mission of the YMCA to help everyone reach their potential
regardless of age, race, ability or financial status and provide recreational activities for children. The
YMCA has historically helped indigent families and children and those who cannot afford various
amenities, including those currently under consideration. We have historically been concerned,
however, about the potential for various entities to use income from adult fitness to pay for the aquatics
or simply to make a profit.
To provide some perspective on this matter, I would like to mention that Gallatin County entered into a
lease agreement for approximately 15 acres for $1 per year. This means that the County, with taxpayer
dollars, is supporting the YMCA. We support such a collaboration insofar as it furthers the YMCA’s
charitable mission. I would also like to mention The Ridge, and what was Gold’s Gym, had many positive
and productive discussions with the YMCA going back more than a decade. In 2004 we reached an
agreement with the YMCA where they would limit adult fitness activities in their facility and we would
not interfere with the YMCA’s plans to build and operate a facility in Gallatin County.
From our perspective, the purpose of the agreement was to prevent a non-profit organization with
government/taxpayer support from competing with the many for-profit entities in Bozeman and Gallatin
County that would pay the taxes to support the YMCA.
Our agreement with the YMCA automatically terminates four years after a building permit is issued for
the construction of the Gallatin County YMCA. We have been in discussion with the YMCA about
extending the agreement.
We support the YMCA including the possibility of some kind of agreement between the City and the
YMCA to help recreational opportunities in the City of Bozeman—should the City deem that in its
interests. Ridge Athletic Clubs and stakeholders have and continue to support and contribute both time
and money and will do so moving forward, specifically to be used towards the YMCA Scholarship
Program for Youth Programming.
Since we have an agreement with the YMCA that they will not substantially compete against the tax
paying base of independent club operators in the City and County, we hope that the City would support
a similar policy. Since our agreement with the YMCA will run out in four years, my question to the
Commission is this: what steps do you plan to take to insure that the City of Bozeman will not
compete with the independent club operators—large and small—including The Ridge Athletic Club.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Steve Roderick, General Manager
The Ridge Athletic Club