Council agrees to start saving for a new community center while patching the aging facility

City leaders told staff to begin building a capital account for a future community center and to explore the adjacent Linden Elementary property as a potential long-term site, while continuing limited repairs to keep the current facility safe and functional.

City Administrator Adam Cowie and Parks staff reviewed the community center’s operating subsidy and deferred-maintenance challenges. Chase (finance) reported the community center cost about $833,042 in operating expenses in fiscal 2024, with rental and program revenues of roughly $253,883 — roughly a 6% recovery on a per-hour basis by staff calculation. The council heard that much of the facility dates to the 1940s–1950s, roof and boiler systems need attention, and existing parking lots show structural failure.

“There’s no doubt the building itself is a disaster,” one council member said, and several members argued that, given the age and condition of the building, planning for new construction makes more sense than an expensive seismic retrofit. The mayor asked staff to examine the cost of teardown-and-rebuild compared to a seismic retrofit; the consensus among council members was to prioritize planning and to begin setting aside money in a capital facilities fund.

Council members expressed particular interest in the nearby Linden Elementary parcel should it come available; staff was directed to evaluate acquisition feasibility and to begin assembling cost estimates and a timeline for a potential new facility. In the interim council asked staff to keep the building functional and safe and to address immediate health-and-safety items (roof/boiler repairs, parking-lot patches) to avoid legal exposure.

Why it matters: The community center houses recreation, senior programs, and city operations that residents use regularly; the building’s age and deferred maintenance create rising operating and capital costs. Council members said the facility is important for the city’s social fabric but that a new, properly planned building could be more cost-effective over the long term.

What’s next: Staff will draft a capital-facilities funding plan and scope of work to guide short-term maintenance and longer-term planning, and will return with seismic/tear-down cost estimates and an exploration of the Linden Elementary site.

Evidence: Community center financial summary and staff discussion at the Lindon City budget kickoff work session.