Livingston updates timeline and finances for community wellness center; donor relinquishes naming right

City Manager Mister Gager gave the Livingston City Commission a comprehensive update on the community wellness center project, describing the site, construction status, funding and operating model and asking the commission to accept a public naming process after the lead donor relinquished naming rights.

The project site is Katy Bunnell Park at North N and Gallatin streets and, including additional parcels the city expects to acquire from BNSF Railway and Northwestern Energy, the park could expand from about 1.8 acres to nearly 5 acres. Gager said the contractor has placed most precast wall panels and work is focused on roofing, under-slab systems and finishing the pools and gym. He gave a construction schedule that targets substantial completion in January 2027 and occupancy in February 2027.

Gager described the building’s program: a six‑lane lap pool, a secondary therapy/recreation pool with beach entry and current, a waterslide, a gym sized for regulation high‑school basketball and space for multipurpose and therapy rooms. The second floor will include a fitness area and a three‑lane elevated walking track. He described changing and family rooms designed to give operators flexibility on staffing and to improve safety.

On capital funding, Gager said the construction, engineering and site budget totals $23,600,000 and that the foundation supporting the project had raised about $22.7 million "as of this morning." He said the foundation also committed an operating endowment to support long‑term maintenance and access; staff presented the endowment amount in the agenda packet as $5,000,000 and said the foundation intends the fund to secure operations and underwriting for youth access and scholarships. Gager said the foundation’s funding is expected to be sufficient to complete the building with required amenities, while certain features (for example, an outdoor waterslide) remain optional alternates the foundation will continue to raise money to add.

Gager described operating arrangements: the city will offer free access for Livingston residents and paid access for nonresidents; the foundation will raise endowment funds and youth scholarships so organizations and school groups can attend. He contrasted Livingston’s property‑tax–based operating model with Great Falls, which relies heavily on pass sales; Great Falls has reported operational shortfalls, Gager said, which Livingston’s revenue mix is intended to avoid.

On environmental and site safety, Gager said a Phase 2 environmental study and air monitoring had been conducted for the site and that monitoring results "indicated that VOC concentrations were below levels established" in the project health‑and‑safety plan. He also said soil sampling of excavated material showed contaminant concentrations below laboratory detection limits or facility cleanup levels and that the project will include under‑slab soil‑gas (radon) mitigation measures as a prudential step.

Public commenters asked about the project’s tax impact, staffing and whether nonresident users would reduce access for locals. A resident who identified himself as Wendell said he was concerned about the tax burden and the possibility of the facility adding $100 or more to some households’ tax bills; others asked whether the city has accounted for regional wage competition and whether the water slide could operate in winter. Gager replied that staffing models and wages had been analyzed and that the facility was designed to attract more professional, year‑round employees rather than seasonal staff; he said the slide can be operated in winter under standard industry installations used in other cold climates.

Gager also announced that the project’s lead donor relinquished naming rights and requested the city lead a public process; the donor asked that the final name include the word "wellness," that it convey regional benefits and that it not be named for a person. Gager said staff will open a public portal and survey for name suggestions and will work with the donor to screen submissions before presenting finalists to the commission.

Why this matters: the wellness center is one of the city’s largest ongoing capital projects. The update clarified construction timing, funding sufficiency and operating plans that will determine long‑term cost to taxpayers and resident access.

"That fund is sufficient to complete the structure with all required amenities," Mister Gager said of the foundation’s capital gifts, and he added the donor’s naming guidance—"the donor has asked that the word 'wellness' be included in the name."