This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Longmont City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday evening to move forward with formalizing partnerships for a potential Olympic sized pool and ice rink center in Longmont.
Both Councilmembers Joan Peck and Polly Christensen voted against.
The motion was put forward by Councilmember Bonnie Finley after hearing a presentation from Jeff Friesner, Recreation and Golf Manager for the City of Longmont, who stated earlier that the expected annual operating costs of such a facility would be $2,689,477, while the expected annual revenue would be $2,053,371.
This would result in a 76% cost recovery while leaving the remaining 24% the responsibility of the city.
It was suggested that partnerships could be a way for the city to fund the facility.
When asked by Councilmember Finley what the cost recovery is for the Longmont Recreation Center, Friesner replied that "depending on the year, anywhere between 106% to as high as 130%."
The ice pavilion got "to a point where two years ago we were at about 116%," continued Friesner. He went on to say that the cost recovery of the pavilion was in the upper 80th percentile in the last year, but that that number should "go back up over a hundred percent."
"We need to formalize those partnerships because I think we need them," said Finley.
Even Friesner agreed, stating that "throughout the feasibility study, it identifies that the City of Longmont really should not or could not build a facility of this nature by itself."
