Architects report to board on rec center

Three associates from SFS Architecture addressed the board on the feasibility study for a proposed recreation center during the preagenda meeting on Wednesday.

The discussion came about because several board members questioned the use of a consultant rather than doing the study in-house during the previous preagenda meeting on Nov. 29.

A proposed contract with SFS and WER Architects of Fayetteville for the study was tabled during that meeting until more information could be obtained.

PRESENTATION

Parks and Recreation Director Travis Chaney introduced the SFS team and said they would present on their products, and Chaney would present fees at the end of the presentation, he said.

City Administrator Gilbert addressed concerns about doing the project in-house. Gilbert said it came down to the size of the planning staff.

The planning department consists of two planners and one engineer who would be unable to work on other projects if they did the feasibility study.

Before the presentation, Director Carol Smiley asked if this would be a similar process to when the city built the Siloam Springs Public Library. Chaney said he imagined so before introducing the architects.

Principal Architect Brian Garvey introduced his team and began his presentation. Garvey started by talking about feasibility studies.

Garvey presented a case study from the town of Excelsior

Springs, Mo. SFS designed Excelsior Springs’ community center, which won several design awards, Garvey said.

“In Excelsior Springs, they didn’t have a lot of capacity to subsidize like this, so they set a goal of 100 percent cost recovery,” Garvey said. “They said this needs to fund itself through user fees, through partner programming, whatever it may be.”

Following the presentation, Gilbert said this was one of the 2022 Board Goals, and now it was his project.

“This study will help us qualify for grants,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert went on to say that, without the study, the city may not be placed high on the list for grants.

Director Reid Carroll asked where SFS would step in to take the city to 2040.

“The reason I ask that is what we do today, the kiddos that are eight and ten and 12, they won’t be giving us any feedback,” Carroll said. “But in 20 years, they’re going to be in the thick of it.”

Garvey said the easiest way was to plan for expansion potential and spoke about the gym as an example.

“Let’s say you have two basketball courts in the initial build-out of this facility,” Garvey said. “Always plan for space where a third court could be added.”

Garvey also said that aquatics could be trickier and said it was harder to add indoor aquatics versus outdoor aquatics.

Following more discussion, Chaney presented the board with the fees for the study. The fee for the full-scope study would be $228,240.

Chaney said the price would drop to $181,660 if the city dropped the assessments for city facilities except for the Family Aquatic Center and dropped the statistically valid survey.

If the city were not to have any city facilities assessed, as well as not having SFS do the statistically valid survey, the price would drop to $162,710, Chaney said.

Gilbert ended the discussion by saying he would send the board an email after the meeting.

City directors also reviewed the following items:

CONSENT AGENDA

• Regular meeting minutes for the Dec. 5 meeting.

• Pre-Agenda meeting minutes for the Dec. 13 meeting.

• Budget amendment for the Maxwell Street sewer line in the amount of $1,021,373.

• Contract amendment with McClelland Consulting Engineers not to exceed $60,000.

• Consent in lieu of the annual corporate meeting of the Siloam Springs Water Resource Company Inc.

• Consent in lieu of the annual corporate meeting of the Illinois Water Development Company Inc.

CONTRACTS AND APPROVALS

• A contract with the Grand River Dam Authority for the financing of AMI Meter purchases for $862,661.

• A contract with Copper Leaf Drive for the reduction of the Master Street Plan right-of-way needs.

• A real estate purchase agreement for the Simon Sager Avenue sub-street for $350.

ORDINANCES

• Ordinance 23-32 regarding the discharge of firearms or weapons in city limits.

• Ordinance 23-33 concerning the definition of significant development.

• Ordinance 23-34 regarding the vacation of utility easements and alleyways for the 800 block of East Jefferson Street.

DISCUSSION

• Board goals