Talks continue for new community center pacts
By Grace Lovins
Review and discussions of draft agreements between the city of Birmingham and Next senior services, and the city and the Birmingham YMCA, continued during the Monday, March 10, meeting during which city staff was directed to make a variety of changes to both agreements before the documents were finalized.
As part of the process for developing Birmingham’s new senior and community center at 400 E. Lincoln, the city is developing agreements between Birmingham and both of the organizations for the use of the building. City manager Jana Ecker told commissioners that staff did not want a formal decision from commissioners but wanted the commission to review the changes made since their last discussion.
City attorney Mary Kucharek, starting with the agreement between the city and Next senior services, ran through the changes, many of which involved word choice changes or adding more specificity. A point of lengthy discussion between commissioners was the interlocal agreement currently in the works.
The interlocal agreement, said Kucharek, will relieve the city of additional financial contribution to Next outside of completing the project. Mayor pro tem Baller suggested that the commission consider requiring Next to pursue additional funding opportunities and setting certain targets, arguing that the current language provides no incentive and the financing is placed on Birmingham taxpayers.
Three financial considerations were recommended to be added to the agreement: first, to do fundraising that would offset construction costs; second, to show satisfactory progress to raise more funds and increasing activity to improve operation revenue; and finally, offer an alternative to contributing to the operation of the facility in lieu of rent.
Commissioners also requested that Kucharek look into implementing an entrance fee that would be applied to individuals looking to use the facility who are not Birmingham residents or members of Next or the YMCA.
As part of the agreement, Next will also have to give a presentation to the commission that ensures it is meeting the requirement set by the city. Next must show that the group is putting in effort to increase fundraising and grants, maintain at least all the programming hours and services that were available when the agreement is signed, and comply with their bylaws.
The review of the YMCA agreement was similar in terms of language changes.
During the discussions, representatives from The Community House (TCH) in Birmingham commented that they would be interested in partnering with Next to provide them with space they may need. Recent discussions at the commission level have prompted commissioners to encourage the city, Next and the YMCA to reach out to The Community House, to see if there could be space available if needed in the future.
The Community House has offered to allow Next and the YMCA a discounted use of parts of its facility, including the ballroom. Use of kitchen space, which has been frequently brought up during discussions on building programming, was considered off the table by The Community House.
The Community House also raised the issue of possible confusion from naming the new building as a community center, although there was no discussion on the issue.
Voters in Birmingham are tentatively scheduled to decide on a .6715-mill tax proposal on the November ballot this year to fund bonds for construction of the center. On a taxable home value of $315,250, the city is estimating that the average homeowner cost of the millage would be $212 annually.
