Jefferson City officials are exploring two alternate proposals for collaboration on a multipurpose building and other options may still be examined.
At the City Council meeting Tuesday, two presentations were given on two different concepts for a planned multipurpose building. Randy Allen, president and CEO of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce presented a $26.1 million facility that would be a collaboration between the city, the Parks and Recreation Commission and Special Olympics Missouri. Commissioner Brad Bates presented a concept for a collaboration between the commission and Lincoln University for a facility on the university campus.
Parks department staff has been working with the chamber on a proposal to combine the multipurpose building with the Training for Life Campus project, which is a Special Olympics Missouri project, for the last couple of months. The chamber also has been discussing the proposal with the Jefferson City Public Schools to have the facility on 15 acres of the school district's land on Missouri 179 and Mission Drive.
The commission has been working toward construction of a multipurpose building, but has struggled with the project's budget. The department has identified roughly $5 million for the facility, but commission members have indicated a desire for a facility that likely would cost closer to $8 million. The commission has previously identified Riverside Park, on the city's east side, as the location for a multipurpose building.
Special Olympics Missouri, city collaboration
Allen's proposal would include use of the city's lodging tax for construction and ongoing operating costs, estimated at roughly $9 million; $5.5 million of Parks and Recreation funds; and $9.7 million from the Special Olympics Missouri. Allen said the plan also would seek to incorporate $2 million of city and county sales tax funds for infrastructure improvements.
The plan would include a total of five basketball courts, with two separated by a mezzanine and storage area from the other three, a "civic event area" of a large lobby and gathering area, an office area for parks department staff, a catering kitchen and concessions area, bleacher seating and a walking track.
Allen said the Special Olympics Missouri board heard the proposal last week and gave Allen the "green light" to continue discussions with the potential partners involved. He said the board would meet again in November, which is when a decision would be discussed.
"It makes sense," Allen said of the collaborations involved. "There is no final commitment from any of the partners here tonight."
While some council members voiced concerns about the projects financial plans and the use of tax money in the project, Mayor Eric Struemph said the proposal may be the only way to keep Special Olympics Missouri in the local area and start to become a tourist attraction for sporting events.
"Right now, in other cities, they are winning the game of sports hospitality," Struemph said. "Let's start talking about this and other projects ... let's win the game."
Lincoln University collaboration
The alternate proposal, presented by Bates and Lincoln University President Kevin Rome, would be a collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the university, which is already planning a recreational facility on its campus.
"We were shocked and elated at the same time to find out Lincoln University currently has plans to build a recreation center," Bates said.
While a ceremonial groundbreaking for the university facility has been scheduled for October, Rome said the university owed it to itself and the community to explore the potential partnership. Rome said the university has 40 acres in the Chestnut Street area to use for the project or a smaller area near the stadium and Jefferson City High School. He said one of the most exciting possibilities of a collaboration would be the possibility of revamping the existing tennis courts and having a tennis center on campus.
No specific financial plans or designs were discussed or available Tuesday, but Bates said some preliminary designs may be ready by the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting set for Sept. 9.
But the commission may have more options to choose from as discussions continue. At last month's commission meeting, Bates said an unnamed private developer also has expressed an interest in constructing an athletic facility in the area.
Bill Lockwood, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said there's a lot of homework to do on how these proposals would function and all discussions are very preliminary right now.
Struemph said some time would be needed to allow the public to weigh in on the proposals and suggested a type of task force or working group be put together to further vet the proposals. A special council meeting is scheduled for Monday to discuss the 2015 budget, but Struemph suggested council members also come ready with suggested names for a group to look at possible collaborations for the multipurpose building.