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Council tables request for funds to upgrade Sierra Vista Community Center gym
Summary
A request from Sierra Soar to fund repairs and upgrades to the Sierra Vista Community Center gym drew extensive public comment and council questions about the community center’s finances and governance; councilmembers agreed to gather more information and bring the item back at a future meeting.
Bob Morales, representing Sierra Soar (a nonprofit supporting Colfax High School’s boys basketball program), asked the Colfax City Council on May 28 for financial support to renovate the Sierra Vista Community Center gymnasium. Morales said the group seeks new floor finishes, repainting and school-logo artwork, glass backboards and other improvements to make the gym usable for youth programming, community open gyms and tournaments.
Council members and members of the public probed organizational and financial details. City staff and speakers reported that the Sierra Vista Community Center has recently experienced a board turnover and ongoing management changes. Council members said the center’s available donations and financial status were unclear: council discussion referenced roughly $2,600 to $3,000 remaining in donations from prior reports, but members asked staff and the community center to confirm balances and the center’s governance. Sierra Soar representatives said the nonprofit would pay for improvements and donate volunteer labor; they also described separate fundraising activities they are pursuing.
Council members raised questions about whether the requested funds would go directly to the community center or to Sierra Soar for improvements; Sierra Soar said funds would be paid to the nonprofit to complete work and that they could provide accounting documentation if requested. Multiple residents, alumni and community volunteers spoke in favor of improving the facility as a way to provide more activities for local youth and to support community events.
After extended discussion and public testimony, councilmembers said they supported the project concept but wanted additional information on the Sierra Vista Community Center’s finances and the requested grant amount before approving funds. Council voted to delay further action and bring the item back at the next council meeting to allow staff, Sierra Soar and the community center to supply clearer financial documentation and funding details.
Council directed staff to coordinate follow-up information with Sierra Soar and the community center board before the next meeting.
