Leaders of the Wood River Community YMCA cheered and applauded Monday night, after Ketchum City Council members agreed to sign a lease that provides a site for their proposed 84,000-square-foot recreation center.
As a crowd filtered into the council's chambers for the Dec. 20 meeting, expectations were high that the city and the YMCA would sign and execute a lease agreement for the YMCA to take control of about 1.5 acres of the city-owned Park and Ride lot.
However, council members were advised to hold off on formally approving the lease until several details are negotiated.
"There are some technical changes to make," said Barry Luboviski, a Ketchum attorney advising the city on the lease negotiations.
In the end, city leaders agreed to issue a "letter of intent" that unequivocally states the city will enter into a lease agreement with the YMCA in the near future.
A 3-0 vote passed a resolution that states the city "will make a good-faith effort to finalize the revisions to the draft lease agreement in an expeditious manner."
YMCA officials applauded the decision, largely because they believe securing a lease for the Park and Ride land is critical to raising funds over the remainder of the holiday season. They have stated that December and January are key months for raising funds for the proposed $16 million YMCA project.
The draft 99-year lease agreement would allow the YMCA's building to occupy approximately one-quarter of the Park and Ride lot, located at the corner of Warm Springs and Saddle roads.
This week, Luboviski repeatedly said the changes that will be made to the draft lease are not substantial.
"I think we will be able to have it resolved in January, for sure," he said.
Mayor Ed Simon said the decision to delay signing the lease is not an attempt by the city to renege on its offer to give the YMCA land at the Park and Ride site. Voters approved the concept in a Nov. 2 advisory election.
"This is not a stalling tactic," Simon said. "We have an obligation to protect taxpayers, now and in the future."
In addition to securing the lease and raising adequate funds to build the public recreation facility, YMCA leaders must still get city approval for their project plans.
In a related action Monday, council members repealed an August ordinance that called for the city to conduct an advisory election before offering land or money to the YMCA. The ordinance is now considered obsolete.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct its next review of the YMCA's plans on Monday, Jan. 24.
