The deadline is approaching for a decision on whether a partnership between Lincoln University and the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission for a proposed multipurpose building will become a reality.
Members of the Jefferson City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission met Friday for a joint meeting of the two entities. Officials from Lincoln University and two Cole County commissioners also attended the joint meeting, which focused on the potential partnership and facility.
Cary Gampher, with Architects Alliance, presented preliminary plans for a collaborative multipurpose building and showed their evolution throughout the past three months.
But a final decision on whether the partnership and shared facility will be pursued is needed by the end of the month. Lincoln University President Kevin Rome said students were promised a recreation facility within one year, which is no longer possible given an expectation of a minimum of six months for design work and one year for construction. Rome said officials are now telling students a facility will be built within two years, preferably by fall 2016, and a decision will need to be made as soon as possible.
"We definitely want a decision made by the end of this year," Rome said.
Rome said part of the pressure is because current students are already paying for a recreation facility through a student fee of $75 per semester, per student, which began in May.
In October, the commission authorized department staff to pursue a potential collaboration with Lincoln University on a proposed multipurpose building. If the partnership is pursued, the facility would operate as both a multipurpose facility and a student recreational facility on Lafayette Street.
Every design sought to include the desired amenities from both entities, including an elevated walking track, a Lincoln University fitness center, a game room, park offices, locker rooms and storage space. The main fluctuation throughout the designs was the number of courts in the facility and space between the courts. Gampher showed options ranging from three to six basketball courts.
Gampher said some of the decisions yet to be made include whether an option for a basement is needed, how large locker rooms need to be and whether other "pre-function" space is necessary in the first phase of the project.
"We're still concentrating on the scope, schedule and budget," Gampher said. "At this point, we've got a lot of options on the table."
The most recent plan presented included a minimum of four basketball courts, which also could be used for eight volleyball courts, and the total project cost, Gampher said, would be in the $10 million to $12 million range.
Bill Lockwood, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said between the university and the department, they have $10.1 million available.
But the real decision is whether the facility will be used primarily to meet local needs or be used as a draw to bring more people to the area through sports tourism.
Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner said the city is at a decision point and needs to figure out if it wants to increase the cost of the project to make the facility a sports tourism attraction or focus solely on meeting the needs of the local residents and organizations.
"To me that's our major decision point here," Scrivner said. "Are we going to build just a local facility?"
Gampher said the architects also looked at making the walking track included in the facility design meet NCAA standards, which would add $2.1 million to $2.5 million to the project cost. But Rome said with that track, the university likely could attract more tournaments to the area given that only two facilities in the state have an indoor NCAA track. Rome even noted one university has already been asked to host a tournament after promising to build such a track.
"There's such limited facilities that there's not a lot options," Rome said.
Scrivner suggested Rome and Lockwood make a presentation at a City Council meeting for a six-court facility with a track to meet NCAA standards. At that point, Scrivner said, the council can decide whether to make any financial contributions to the project.
"While we've got the momentum to do this, let's build it," Scrivner said.
Mayor Eric Struemph then asked Rome and Lockwood to attend the next City Council meeting Dec. 15 to present a facility concept with a total project cost, how much they can afford and how much they need. Struemph said the city could then reach out to other potential partners, such as the Cole County Commission and other organizations, to raise funds for the project.
Struemph and several council members brought up the possibility of using the city's lodging tax funds that previously were earmarked for a conference center. That fund is expected to raise roughly $9 million.
"We do have a funding source that we could put toward something," Struemph said.
Struemph said the city would need some type of estimate on a return on investment for the project before committing any funds.
After about an hour of presentations and discussions, Marty Miller, vice president of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said the department and Lincoln University are capable of forming a large-scale partnership and a good facility, but what the next step comes down to is whether the community wants a great facility capable of more.