Council continues community‑center discussion; staff report shows limited rental revenue and large potential floor replacement cost

Sunnyside City Council continued its discussion of the community center on Jan. 27, 2025. Staff said the facility remains available for rentals but that operating it as a staffed recreation center would require reliable funding and programming.

Public Works Director Raul Sanchez and the city manager reported rental revenue of about $12,000 in 2024 for the gym and kitchen. They also described the facility’s current floor: a thin rubber material installed for basketball that, staff said, is difficult to repair if torn; full replacement could be costly. Sanchez estimated that, if the floor is significantly damaged, replacement costs could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (staff cited a figure in the “around $300,000” range depending on materials and installation). That figure would be a capital outlay only incurred if the floor becomes unusable.

Councilors discussed how the facility is used now: indoor soccer (Lobos), pickleball, basketball drop-in, and community rentals such as weddings and parties. Staff noted that some user groups manage daily bookings informally (a facilities‑use agreement and revenue box system was described), but that the city no longer has dedicated personnel on site to collect fees and manage day‑to‑day operations.

The council asked the parks-and-rec board to reconvene and participate in planning. Staff also said the splash pad is a non‑recirculating system tied to sewer (water runs directly to drain) and that converting it to a recirculating system would require funding. Councilors discussed scheduling and how to better accommodate soccer and pickleball while preserving some basketball hours.

No vote was taken. Council asked staff and the parks-and-rec board to return with usage data, options to protect or replace the floor, and proposals for programming that could make a staffed facility sustainable.