Committee approves one‑year Simon’s intergovernmental agreement update with sunset to allow follow-up after innovation study

Polk County’s Executive and Finance Committee approved forwarding a revised intergovernmental agreement for Simon’s natatorium to the full county board. The draft updates the 1980s-era language, clarifies operating responsibilities after organizational changes (both the county and city now have administrators), and adds a one-year sunset so parties can revisit terms after an ongoing innovation study.

Key points: the revised agreement replaces older provisions that assumed different governance structures and clarifies financial and operating roles, oversight and approval steps for capital expenditures, and a process to present annual operating budgets to both city and county. The city’s finance committee requested several edits, which were accepted by the natatorium board and the city council; the committee noted that the city indicated it may not be able to contribute half of certain capital costs in 2026 and wants a one-year term so the innovation study can inform longer-term arrangements.

Committee members and the county attorney emphasized the sunset clause and tighter preapproval language for major capital expenditures so a department cannot incur a large capital expense and later demand reimbursement without prior authorization. Committee members also discussed operational continuity and fund-sharing arrangements should either party withdraw in future years.

The committee voted to forward the updated agreement to the county board. Staff said the one-year sunset will give administrators and the natatorium board time to develop a longer-term structure and budget proposal for calendar-year 2027 and beyond.