tracplan500Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC) Board of Directors has reviewed if James River Family Fitness (former YMCA) along with its child and daycare facility would be required to pay a rental fee at the proposed Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) which would house the Fitness Center and child care operations.

At the meeting, Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen said she wasn’t sure it was fair to competing businesses, that James River Family Fitness and its child care/day care operation will be able to operate out of a new facility that is being paid for by taxpayer dollars and will not have to pay any rent.

She noted that other day care centers, they pay rent on their facilities.

Andersen feels it would be appropriate to obtain rental income from James River Family Fitness, including the child and daycare operations, using the funds to pay depreciation costs of the facility.

Jamestown School Superintendent Rob Lech, also member of the Two Rivers Activity Center Board of Directors, said he understood Andersen’s point of view, adding that the revenues James River Family Fitness and the child and day care operation would generate dollars toward rent and go to the activity center to pay off its debt.

JSDC Board member, Kelly Rachel, said the activity center’s plan would not create any additional competition at subsidized rates.

The activity center debt would be paid back by memberships to the center, including $55 for a single and $90 for a family per month, which covers over 4 individuals.

Activity Center Board member, Amy Walters said the updated business plan indicates that if all the 2,700 current members of James River Family Fitness would become members the center can attract 100 more, or 2,800 memberships, and renting the center’s facilities, would cover almost all of the center’s costs.

The city is reviewing petitions submitted by supporters of the activity center, asking the city to hold a special election to determine if voters want to approve a one percent sales tax that would pay for the first phase of the proposed activity center, that would cost $28.6 million.If at least 1,053 signatures are verified, the special election would be held within 90 days of when the signatures are verified.

TRAC operations would become part of the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department.

The activity center’s board would dissolve and become an advisory board to the parks and recreation department.

The second phase, which would be paid for by a separate capital fundraising campaign, would expand the area where the multisport courts are planned and other sections of the center, and bring the total cost for the project to about $40 million.

Two Rivers Activity Center would be located on about eight acres of land, southeast of Jamestown High School and northwest of Gussner Elementary School, and contain James River Family Fitness and its child and daycare operation, along with an indoor water facility, three multisport courts, community meeting rooms, a kitchen and an indoor turf air facility