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Hub fields report growth; city and Hub to draft MOU for parking/walkway dedication and TIF reimbursement
Summary
The Hub sports complex reported heavy use and economic impact estimates; city staff and the Hub presented a draft plan to dedicate the parking/walkway improvements to the city so the Hub can pursue TIF/LIFT reimbursement, while remaining responsible for maintenance.
Phil Champion, executive director of the Hub sports organization, told the City Council on June 17 that the Hub’s new outdoor fields are active and drawing regional users. He described the site’s build-out, added parking and usage patterns and presented an economic-impact study the Hub commissioned.
Champion said the site now includes lines for soccer, lacrosse and football and the Hub added 160 parking spaces. “What started off as an $8,000,000 project is now about a 9 and a half million dollar project,” he said. A consultant study presented to council estimated annual attendance of about 137,000 people, roughly 4,600 hotel room nights and an annual economic impact of about $5.3 million once the facility is operating at full capacity with four fields.
City staff and the Hub outlined a pathway to allow the Hub to pursue reimbursement under the city’s TIF/LIFT resolution by dedicating the relevant publicly used improvements to the city. The idea under discussion would dedicate the parking lot and walking-path improvements (the portion highlighted in the Hub’s presentation) to the city; in return the Hub would continue to operate and maintain the site and request TIF/LIFT reimbursement through County processes. City staff said they are drafting a memorandum of understanding that would document maintenance responsibilities, priority/discounted reservations for city events and other mutual terms; the Hub requested installation of a security (Flock) camera at the site entrance.
Staff said next steps are finalizing MOU language, effectuating a formal dedication of the shaded improvements to the city, and submitting the Hub’s construction expenses as part of a formal TIF/LIFT reimbursement request to Spokane County. Council members praised the partnership and asked staff to return with a formal MOU for council consideration.
