University Place moves to restore youth sports with YMCA partnership; interlocal with school district to go on consent agenda

University Place City Council on July 21 directed staff to prepare a formal agreement with the YMCA and return to the council for a vote after the council placed an interlocal agreement with the University Place School District on the consent agenda.

The move sets the stage for the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties to run youth sports programs in University Place using school facilities under the district’s proposed interlocal agreement. The interlocal would allow the city to use designated school facilities for youth sports and waive facility fees, while making the city responsible for cleanup or repairs stemming from program use.

City Public Works Director Jack Eklund summarized the interlocal to council: “This agreement does allow the city to use designated school facilities for the use, for the purpose of youth sports programs, also with a waiver of any facility fees.” The school board had already approved the agreement on its side, Eklund said; the city council voted to place the interlocal on the consent agenda so it can be adopted at a later regular meeting without separate study-session action.

Why it matters: Council members said restoring a stable youth recreation program is a top quality-of-life priority and could increase participation in school sports. The YMCA said the arrangement would also give YMCA members and University Place residents an entry point to additional programs at YMCA facilities.

Program details and costs - Provider: YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties (presenters: Jared Johnson, executive director; Jose, operations director) - Proposed seasons: winter, spring and fall leagues and summer clinics - Sample offerings: winter youth basketball (ages 5–12); spring t-ball/coach-pitch (ages 5–8) and soccer (ages 5–12); fall soccer (5–12), girls volleyball (about 8–12), cross-country (5–12) - Proposed fees: $95 for residents/YMCA members and $190 for nonresidents for seasonal leagues; summer clinics proposed at about $65 for residents and $130 for nonresidents - Registration and marketing: YMCA and city staff said a robust marketing window is needed — roughly four months from contract-signature to league start to allow registration and promotion. The YMCA indicated a spring start is realistic if decisions are made by fall.

The YMCA team emphasized pacing: “We’re not gonna deliver until both sides are ready to go, and and we’re comfortable with how we’re doing. No need to rush on this,” Jared Johnson said during the presentation.

Scheduling and promotional terms The proposed interlocal requires the city to follow the school district’s scheduling rules and reservation procedures. The draft also allows the district to include YMCA or city promotional material in its communications but does not require the district to publish every program (the district reserves editorial control). Under the interlocal the city may assign program-operation rights to a third party with written assent from the district; the draft interlocal term is four years with an option to extend by mutual written agreement.

Council direction and next steps Councilmembers repeatedly expressed support for moving quickly but carefully. Councilmember Will McCluskey said the agreement is “the cornerstone” for restoring recreation and the partnership was “strategic.” Several councilmembers asked staff to bring back a formal legislative document (a contract/agreement) for council action; Councilmember Fleming specifically asked that staff prepare the agreement so the council can vote on it rather than revisit another study session.

Council also asked staff to preview the marketing and branding materials with the council before a public launch and to coordinate timelines so registration windows align with school schedules. City staff said if both parties finalize an agreement by roughly the end of October, a spring season would be feasible; an aggressive timeline would be required to start in winter.

No formal vote to authorize YMCA program operations took place July 21. The interlocal with the school district was moved to the consent agenda for a future meeting; staff will return with the YMCA contract/agreement and recommended implementation timeline for council action and with a plan to preview marketing materials before public registration begins.

Ending: The council’s next formal step is to consider the interlocal on the consent agenda and to receive the YMCA contract for a vote; staff estimated a spring launch of leagues is likely if the agreement is finalized and marketing runs on the timeline outlined by YMCA staff.