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Marion YMCA, city prepare amendment to agreement as facility strains parking and demand
Summary
The Marion YMCA told the City Council it is amending its memorandum of agreement with the city to formalize changes including limiting guest passes, extending resident discounts and introducing a paid track pass to manage heavy use and parking constraints.
The Marion YMCA and city staff told the City Council on April 1 that an amendment to the existing memorandum of agreement will appear on the council agenda this week to address heavy facility use, parking stress and program access.
City staff framed the amendment as a capacity-management measure tied to a formal amendment to the MOU that will be presented to council. The YMCA and city representatives described several concrete changes in the proposed amendment: suspending routine public guest-pass sales, extending a resident discount, adding a $5 track pass for Marion residents and piloting a monthly “community family day” for nonmembers.
Bob Carlson, president and CEO of the YMCA, said membership surged after the new facility opened and that parking has become constrained. "Our parking is very stressed at the building," Carlson said. He told council that the association-wide decision was to stop selling walk-in guest passes to the general public because unrestricted guest access strained capacity.
Dale Emerson, branch executive director at the Marion YMCA, reviewed branch participation numbers and programs. Emerson said the branch had more than 9,400 members and that youth and adult sports programs — including more than 1,200 children in youth basketball last season — put routine pressure on gym and parking capacity. "Gym space is, far and few between, and we can always use more of it," Emerson said.
Seth (staff member) told the council the amendment would extend the 10% resident discount for five additional years, formalize a track pass similar to the pickleball pass and establish a community family day likely scheduled on a Sunday for Marion residents to use the facility without full membership. He said the amendment had been reviewed through subcommittee and would be on the council consent agenda for Thursday.
The YMCA also emphasized scholarship programs and access: Carlson said the association offers financial assistance and that "we scholarship about a million dollars worth of folks last year in all of our branches." YMCA leaders said guest passes can still be arranged through branch executives for visitors with a specific need, but general on-the-spot guest sales will not resume.
Council members praised the partnership and discussed next steps. Several members said they regard the amendment as part of managing shared resources and thanked YMCA staff for coordination. Seth said staff will continue to pursue complementary solutions, including looking at parking options and summer program locations with city staff and the parks and rec team.
The council will consider the proposed first amendment to the MOU on the consent agenda at the next regular meeting; council action had not occurred at the April 1 work session.
