St. Mary's County committee approves scope for YMCA feasibility study, recommends MOA with YMCA of the Chesapeake

The St. Mary's County YMCA exploratory committee on Feb. 19 approved a revised scope of work for a feasibility study and voted to recommend that the County Commissioners enter a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the YMCA of the Chesapeake to carry out that work.

The subcommittee's motion to approve an amended scope and its separate motion to recommend an MOA were approved by voice vote. Committee chair Bennett Wilson opened the discussion and led the votes. County staff said budget authority up to $75,000 is available in the capital budget to support the study.

Why it matters: The committee's actions set the consultant's terms and the county's procurement pathway for determining whether an operating YMCA or community center is feasible in St. Mary's County. The study will identify likely locations, programming needs and startup and operating costs; the committee said its decisions should inform both the capital plan and next steps for startup operations.

The subcommittee presented a one-page scope of work that lists 12 analytic tasks for phase 1 of the feasibility study. Dr. Rebecca Bridget, St. Mary's County administrator, urged the committee to require the study to "analyze the three potential locations that the YMCA exploratory committee has already identified, and then make, perhaps, recommendations for the priority" so the consultant ranks sites rather than merely listing them. The committee also accepted several other edits: changing the survey requirement from “manual or electronic” to require both paper (manual) and electronic collection, expanding outreach to multiple county regions, and increasing the number of public input meetings from two to three.

Youth members and volunteers described program priorities that the feasibility study should analyze. "There is lots of support in the community for a community center, or YMCA or some sort of center similar to those," Donovan, a youth advisory member who presented results of a youth mapping project, told the committee. Donovan and fellow youth presenter Taylor highlighted gaps in indoor spaces, mentoring, arts and targeted fitness programs and recommended asking the consultant to provide initial, short-term and long-term pro forma operating budgets.

Committee discussion also covered procurement and budget. Committee members reviewed three purchasing pathways and recommended pathway 4: a memorandum of agreement between the County Commissioners and the YMCA of the Chesapeake. County staff said the MOA approach is a standard county mechanism for working with nonprofit partners and that an MOA would allow the YMCA to contract directly with a vendor (the consultant) to perform the study within the committee's $75,000 budget allocation. The committee reviewed an example scope and an example Triangle 2 feasibility study from other Maryland jurisdictions as samples of the expected work and level of effort.

Public comment reinforced demand for a Lexington Park location and immediate startup options. Multiple residents, students and petition organizers told the committee they want accessible youth programming and indoor recreation in Lexington Park; one organizer reported more than 2,200 petition signatures collected countywide and a goal of 3,000 total. Speakers urged the committee to push for a rapid community presence while the capital project moves forward (for example, a rented storefront to begin programming) and to ensure volunteer and program partnerships so a new facility would have instructors and mentors.

Formal actions recorded by the committee - Approve scope of work (as amended): Motion to approve the scope of work for phase 1 of the St. Mary's County YMCA feasibility study (includes three community meetings; paper and electronic surveys; analysis of three identified potential locations; pro forma initial, short-term and long-term operating budgets). Outcome: approved by voice vote. (Mover/second: not specified on the public transcript.) - Recommend MOA with YMCA of the Chesapeake to County Commissioners: Motion to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners enter a memorandum of agreement with the YMCA of the Chesapeake to arrange and fund the feasibility study (funding up to $75,000 from the county capital budget). Outcome: approved by voice vote. (Mover/second: not specified on the public transcript.)

What the committee directed next: Committee members asked staff to place the MOA and scope documents on the packet for transmittal to the County Commissioners for their approval. Members also requested that the committee invite Robbie Gill of the YMCA of the Chesapeake to the next meeting to answer questions about timing, building size and possible phased start-up operations; the committee said it will consider a recommendation to expedite a community presence depending on the consultant's findings.

Context and limitations: Committee members emphasized that the feasibility study will define building size and amenities (pool, gyms, specialized rooms) and that those capital costs will be clarified by the consultant. County staff noted the $75,000 figure is intended to cover the study and that a full capital project cost will be substantially higher and will be considered separately in the County's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Public commenters and youth presenters repeatedly urged the committee to plan for program sustainability and volunteer recruitment so a facility would have usable programs when it opens.

The committee closed the item and moved on to youth presentations and public comment; both were incorporated into the committee's record for the feasibility study and the MOA recommendation.