While no official decision was made during an emotion-laden meeting Thursday, the Sun Valley City Council expressed a mixed bag of support and opposition for Mayor Wayne Willich's recommendation that the city eliminate a $75,000 contract for service with the Wood River Community YMCA in its 2007-2008 budget.
A straw poll indicated that Councilman Dave Chase and Councilwoman Joan Lamb would vote to fund the YMCA. Councilman Dewayne Briscoe indicated he would vote against YMCA funding, and Councilman Nils Ribi abstained from participating in the informal tally.
At the special meeting, the council chamber was filled with members of the public, most of whom were in attendance for one item on an agenda that also included a discussion of mid-year budget adjustments and the city's fiscal goals for 2008. Out of an audience of about 60, the overwhelming majority spoke in favor of continuing financial support for the YMCA because of benefits to both Sun Valley and the rest of the Wood River Valley.
"To have a place for children to gather is absolutely important," said Sun Valley resident David Hepworth, adding that the YMCA played an integral role in his adolescence. "Seventy-five thousand dollars doesn't seem like a large amount for the city's budget or for many Sun Valley residents."
That sentiment was readily echoed by a plethora of vocal YMCA supporters, including former Sun Valley and Ketchum city officials, as well as those who contributed to the construction of the facility.
"I have personally given over $1 million to the Y because it made the community a better place to live," said mid-valley resident Benjamin Witt. "Even if not every Sun Valley resident uses it, they all benefit from it through the impact the Y has on the valley as a whole."
Other proponents of continued funding said the YMCA promotes diversity, health and a sense of place that sets the Wood River Valley apart from other resort towns around the West. Nearly every comment against Willich's recommendation was met with vigorous applause, and several people advocated increasing the amount of the contract.
However, about half a dozen people supported the Willich proposal. Critics of the funding argued that it is not an intended use of local-option tax receipts, nor should the city spend money on a non-profit organization.
"The YMCA should be funded by individuals and businesses," said Chuck Rumpf, who added that he has given money to the YWCA in the past. "I don't want someone telling me where to donate my money. If I want to donate I will do it myself."
When Willich ended the public comment portion of the meeting, he began the council discussion by disclosing that he had personally contributed money to the YMCA during its fundraising drive leading up to the facility's construction. He said he considered the YMCA a valuable resource, due in no small part to the fact that he went to his local YMCA five days a week when he was growing up.
However, he said Sun Valley spends nearly $200,000 annually on recreation, which goes to different organizations around the Wood River Valley, including the Blaine County Aquatic Center in Hailey. As well, the city is scheduled to spend $685,000 on rebuilding the multi-use path from the intersection of Elkhorn Road and state Highway 75 to the intersection of Village Way and Elkhorn Road. It's a path used by residents throughout the valley.
Willich also repeated the assertion that taxpayer money should not be turned over for a charitable purpose.
"There seems to be two camps here," Lamb said. "Those that think this is a charity we're making donations to and those that think it's really part of the parks and recreation budget. We all have to decide where we come out on this issue."
While Willich said it "smacked of a donation," Chase said the discussion should begin with establishing an appropriate percentage of the budget allocated to parks and recreation. Chase said he supports the funding.
"I don't want to write a check tonight, but want to go through a thorough process," said Chase, who was clearly in support of the YMCA.
Ribi said the city needs to create a recreation master plan.
"It's a good idea to talk about percentages, but totally irrelevant at this point," Ribi said.
He advocated that such an item be part of discussion on the 2008-2009 budget, but shouldn't be part of the decision on YMCA funding at this time.
Chase continued with a presentation titled "Bassackwards Budgeting," in which he said the city needs to establish its goals for recreation development and then create a set of criteria for fulfilling those goals, such as filling an unmet need, raising property values or supporting economic development and tourism. As an example, Chase said the YMCA is listed by many real estate agencies as an amenity to attract potential buyers.
However, no decision was made at Thursday's meeting as it was scheduled merely for discussion. The council will vote on whether to provide the funding at its meeting May 15.
In addition to the issues surrounding the YMCA, the council also discussed the future of the city's Land Acquisition Fund, which Willich recommended be decreased from just over $800,000 to $10,000, with $216,811 transferred to the Capital Improvements Fund. That money would help pay for about $900,000 in street projects, which include $685,000 for repairing the paved multi-use path.
Ribi said discussion was needed on how to move the funds around.
For coverage of the remainder of the meeting, which was not available at press time, please see the Wednesday edition of the Mountain Express.
Wayne Willich
