SEQUIM — A lease agreement between the Olympic Peninsula YMCA and Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center is complete and ready for consideration of approval.
YMCA officials hope to reopen in September the center known as SARC, which was closed Oct. 30, hiring between 30 and 50 workers.
But putting the lease into action depends upon the Clallam County commissioners’ approval of a $731,705 grant from the county’s Opportunity Fund to pay for a new air handler and other upgrades.
Also, both the SARC and YMCA boards must approve the lease agreement.
The SARC commissioners plan to discuss it at their meeting at 5 p.m. today at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.
The YMCA board plans to review the lease agreement for discussion and decision March 23.
The Clallam County Finance Committee is slated to discuss the SARC grant request March 24. If the grant request is supported by the committee, it will then undergo a public hearing process before the county commissioners make their final decision, said Len Borchers, YMCA executive director.
After working together for nearly five months to create a plan aimed at reopening SARC — a multi-use facility that closed last October — the entities have outlined a 15-year lease agreement with two 10-year extensions.
The YMCA would operate the anticipated Sequim Y, and the Clallam County Park and Recreation District 1 — which is SARC — would serve as the landlord.
The YMCA would “fulfill the mission of the Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 and in consideration the Y will pay the SARC board $20,000 a year to cover district expenses,” according to the draft lease.
Borchers said the SARC board and YMCA agree on “public impact, vision and keeping what’s best for the community as the goal.
“A few years ago, we changed our name from ‘Clallam County’ to ‘Olympic Peninsula YMCA’ to represent that fact that we were in Jefferson County.
“We actually leapfrogged around Sequim because SARC was here, but when the opportunity did present itself, it just seemed to fit as we broaden our reach and impact in these communities,” he added.
The air handler — which maintains air quality, humidity and chemicals at a safe balance within the swimming pool area — is required by the state Department of Health.
“We can’t do anything until we get a vote from the Board of County Commissioners on the grant,” said Frank Pickering, SARC board chairman.
In addition to the air handler, between $60,000 and $100,000 in repairs and tenant improvements have been identified, such as signage, a pool pump and roof leak.
YMCA officials are responsible for the repairs and improvements, according to a draft lease agreement.
“Basically, we plan to operate it the same way as the facilities in Port Angeles and Port Townsend,” said Gary Huff, YMCA board member and fundraising chairman.
The Sequim Y would have similar hours of operation, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, Huff said.
Monthly membership fees would range between $48 and $50 per individual and $70 and $75 for couples.
Per YMCA policy, “no one would be turned away because of an inability to pay program fees or a membership,” Huff said.
Instead, the YMCA would raise money to ensure everyone can become a member, which gives access to other YMCAs, too.
Under the draft lease agreement, the YMCA would assume the outstanding membership fees, which are worth about $103,000.
The former SARC pass holders who paid ahead would have three options: join the YMCA and receive the full amount of credit applied on a monthly basis, not join and request 50 percent upfront or the full amount over 18 months, or, lastly, donate the value back to the YMCA as a charitable contribution.
Mirroring other Olympic Peninsula YMCA facilities, YMCA officials would recruit a Sequim Y advisory board to help with policies, planning, fundraising and advocacy.
The advisory board would consist of at least five members, including one ex-officio SARC board member appointee.
The SARC board would remain intact as the Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 board but would be “hands off” from the Sequim Y’s day-to-day operations, said Sherry Nagel, SARC board vice chairwoman.
Pickering plans to make the lease agreement available for viewing at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.
For more information about future classes or to be placed on a mailing list to receive status updates, call Borchers at 360-452-9244, ext. 305, or email elenb@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
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Alana Linderoth is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
