The operating agreement between the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and the Lincoln University Board of Curators for a joint multipurpose/wellness facility has been signed, allowing the project to move forward into the construction phase.
The LU Board of Curators unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding (MOU) in open session on Thursday with no discussion. The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the MOU on Wednesday in open session, though it was preceded by a 20-minute closed-door discussion.
Last year, the Parks and Recreation Commission authorized Parks staff to pursue a collaboration with Lincoln on the multipurpose building, which would operate as both a multipurpose facility and a student wellness facility on Lafayette Street.
Between LU and the parks commission, $11.1 million is available for the collaborative project, which includes a $1.5 million line of credit approved by the Jefferson City Council in December at the commission's request.
According to the MOU, Parks is solely responsible for repaying that loan.
In July, commissioners approved shrinking the building's proposed footprint from 90,000 to 79,000 square feet after cost estimates had risen above the available funds for the project. By trimming the overall square footage, the estimated cost of building the facility became between $11.4 million and $13.6 million, which still leaves a potential funding gap of up to $2 million.
But what exactly does the newly-approved memorandum spell out?
The MOU lays out the project's funding and responsibilities for operations and management of the facility. According to the MOU, Lincoln University will be responsible for soliciting and receiving construction bids, and the facility title will be held jointly, though Lincoln will hold the title to the real property.
Funding
According to the MOU, Lincoln will contribute $4.6 million for the facility, with $4 million coming from grant funds and $600,000 from the swimming pool fund, a long-time fee collected to construct a swimming pool eventually deemed unfeasible by the Lincoln University Board of Curators. The Parks commission will contribute $6.5 million, which includes the $1.5 million line of credit from the Jefferson City Council. (The MOU clearly states the repayment of that line of credit is solely the responsibility of the Parks commission.)
The MOU states that the facility can be named in exchange for a donation under terms of a naming rights agreement, as long as both parties agree. However, a bit of competition is laid out as well, as whichever entity secures the donation gets to keep 90 percent of the donated funds, with the other 10 percent going to the other party. If the two secure a donation together, the funds will be split equally between the two.
Cost divisions
According to the MOU, the parks department is responsible for all costs of improvements to the first floor, while Lincoln is responsible for costs in the basement and upper floor. Parks also is responsible for 60 percent of all utilities, excluding the basement, and Lincoln will cover the remaining utility costs.
The MOU also establishes the facility would operate under the joint jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Police Department and the Lincoln University Police Department. However, it stipulates Lincoln will hire an additional officer to assist with security and, though the officer will not be dedicated to the new facility, Parks will be responsible for reimbursing Lincoln for 25 percent of the salary and benefits of the lowest-paid officer.
It also outlines the establishment of a capital replacement fund to be used for replacement of the mechanical systems and maintenance of the building's structure. Lincoln is required to contribute an amount equal to 4 percent of the total gross revenue for the entire facility from the previous year, while Parks is required to contribute an amount equal to 6 percent of the total gross revenue.
Operations
The MOU sets initial hours of operation for the facility at 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
Initially, the parks commission will be responsible for staffing the area from 6 a.m.-5 p.m., with staffing costs after 5 p.m. to be shared between the two entities.
Lincoln will be responsible for staffing the fitness center on the second floor, which will have limited public access.
According to the MOU, Lincoln has exclusive control over the second floor, which will contain the fitness area, classrooms, offices and a game suite. The agreement states Lincoln will "set an allowance for a limited number of non-student memberships to its weight room/cardio area available to the public at large." Priority will be given to faculty, staff and alumni of Lincoln first, followed by city staff. "Thereafter, memberships may be offered to the general public."
A press release issued Friday further states the fitness center is "designed primarily for the wellness of Lincoln University students, faculty and staff, as well as city staff." There is no mention of city residents.
Within six months of signing the agreement, Lincoln and the Parks department must establish a joint policy for conduct and a procedure for disciplinary action.
The MOU states under Parks commission powers, "alcoholic beverages shall be permitted to be served or sold, so long as the manner is consistent with any reasonable policy adopted by Lincoln University."
The agreement also establishes two new committees to be formed to help oversee operations.
The Facility Advisory Committee will have six members, three appointed by Lincoln and three appointed by Parks, "to provide non-binding advise to the parties on use and operation of the facility and provide an opportunity for input from the parties and other interested groups and individuals regarding facility management and operation."
The Student Advisory Committee will be created by Lincoln "for the purpose of providing input to the Facility Advisory Committee as to what programs the student body would like to see in the facility."
What's next?
Now that the memorandum of understanding has been approved by both the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and the Lincoln University Board of Curators, what's next for the multipurpose building?
The building, which will be constructed on Lafayette Street, will be 79,000 square feet, with the main floor housing four full-size gyms, office space, a lobby, restrooms, a front desk, concessions, storage and meeting rooms. The second floor will contain a fitness center, offices, meeting/ classroom space, restrooms and an elevated walking track. The basement will be used by the Lincoln University Athletic Department.
Bill Lockwood, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said the 50 percent plan review of the construction documents will take place this week and, about three weeks later, will be the 100 percent plan review. Once that's complete, he said, they would advertise for bids with the hope of receiving bids by the beginning of November.
The Lincoln University Board of Curators' next meeting is set for Nov. 12.
According to a press release, construction will begin before the end of the year, and it is anticipated to take about one year to build. The facility is expected to open in late 2016.