Livingston City updates public on wellness center site, design, funding and operations plan

Livingston City staff provided the commission and public an update on the proposed Livingston Community Wellness Center, covering site selection, building design, environmental testing, fundraising and an operating model that gives free access to city residents and paid access to nonresidents.

City Manager Mister Gager told the commission the project is sited at Katy Bunnell Park at North End and Gallatin Streets and that the 4 Ranges Foundation (the lead private fundraising partner) and the city are working together on land transfers, site design and construction. "On 03/19/2024, voters of the city of Livingston approved a referendum to create a special district to support operations of the wellness center," Gager said, and he summarized building features, testing and schedule.

The update matters because the project combines a major new public facility, private capital and a tax-supported operating model. Gager said the foundation has raised almost all capital needed for construction and is providing an operating endowment; commissioners and residents pressed staff on tax impacts, staffing plans and how the city will preserve access for local users.

Gager walked commissioners through the planned site layout and building program. The site plan places the two pools, a six‑lane lap pool and a smaller therapy/recreation pool, on the first floor; a gymnasium sized for regulation high‑school basketball and space for pickleball; multipurpose rooms; a fitness area and a three‑lane elevated walking track on the second floor. The presentation showed bleacher space on the lap pool deck and room for spectator seating in the gymnasium. Gager said some adjacent parcels currently owned by BNSF Railway and Northwestern Energy are expected to transfer to the city, expanding Katy Bunnell Park from roughly 1.7–1.8 acres to nearly 5 acres once transfers are complete.

Gager summarized environmental work on the site. He said phase‑2 environmental testing had been completed and that a portion of the site sits within a state superfund area boundary; the presentation excerpted an executive summary saying air monitoring and soil sampling returned concentrations "below levels established in the site specific health and safety plan" and "below laboratory detection limits and/or facility cleanup levels." Gager said the construction team plans to install a sub‑slab venting / radon mitigation system as a precaution.

On costs and schedule, Gager reported a current construction, engineering and site budget of $23,600,000 and said the foundation had raised $22,700,000 as of the presentation. He said the general contractor expects substantial completion in January 2027 and occupancy ready in February 2027. Gager said the lead donor originally secured naming rights with a $10,000,000 gift but has relinquished that right and asked the city to open a public naming process. "The donor has asked that the word wellness be included in the name, that it denote regional benefits, and that it also not be for a person," Gager said; staff said the city will open a survey and portal for name submissions and the donor will review recommended names before final approval.

On operations, Gager said the 4 Ranges Foundation will continue fundraising for endowment and program access and that the facility will provide free access for Livingston residents and paid access for nonresidents. He told the commission the presentation's operating assumptions forecast roughly $1,680,000 in total annual operating expenditures, of which about $1,180,000 is salary and benefits and roughly $500,000 is non‑personnel costs. Gager also said the foundation is committing an operating endowment; during discussion he stated the foundation "has committed to a $5,000,000 operating endowment" to help stabilize long‑term operations and provide youth access scholarships.

Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about tax impacts, staffing and use by nonresidents. Resident Linda referenced challenges reported for a similar facility in Great Falls and said she was concerned about future tax increases and whether the project would chiefly benefit new arrivals rather than current taxpayers. "Great Falls at the end of the first year is a $183,000 in debt," Linda said in public comment, and she urged continued monitoring of operating costs. Commissioners asked whether staffing levels would be sufficient to avoid capacity constraints; Gager said the city is recruiting a mix of professional, year‑round operators and seasonal staff and that staff have studied operations at comparable regional facilities.

On other technical and design items, staff said the construction drawings show a drop‑off area, handicap parking adjacent to the building, and several parking stalls wired for future electric vehicle charging. The city will run conduit now so charging stations can be added later without repaving. Staff also said the exterior site design, including a potential full‑size sports field to the west of the wellness center, is pending public engagement and additional environmental review where needed.

The presentation closed with staff taking clarifying questions and noting that future agenda items could include any formal agreements to accept donated parcels, street closures if required for future fields, and any naming approval steps the commission must take. No formal motions or votes on the wellness center were recorded at this meeting.