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Farmington staff recommend outsourcing youth theater as parks leaders push inclusive park upgrades
Summary
City staff proposed an RFP to hire an outside provider to run Farmington’s youth theater, freeing staff to expand concert and other recreation programming; parks staff also presented plans and neighbor feedback for an all‑wheels inclusive park and South Park water‑saving measures.
City Manager Brigham Mellor told the Council during a work session that controversy around the City’s youth theater program has prompted staff to consider turning operations over to an outside private provider while Farmington retains facility control and advertising responsibility. Mellor said the change would reduce staff time spent managing theater details and allow staff to direct resources toward other projects, such as a proposed twilight concert series.
City Parks and Recreation Director Colby Thackeray said he has met with potential vendors. He described Up with Kids as a weekly fall‑to‑spring offering that would charge about $50 per month and a summer option through Hope Box of an eight‑week program culminating in a play. Under the model presented, the outside provider would manage registration, program delivery and enrollment, while the City would provide free space and promotion.
Thackeray said the City has received positive public feedback about a proposed all‑wheels park designed to be accessible to wheelchairs and strollers and to serve skaters and bikers as well. He noted neighbors requested a fence and trees; staff said no part of the facility would be closer than 30 feet to adjacent residences. Assistant City Manager and City Engineer Chad Boshell warned that recent curb-and-gutter work will place a new curb roughly 8 feet from an existing fence line at South Park, which could limit spectator areas for flag football and other programs.
Mellor said staff will prepare a formal RFP and return a contract recommendation to Council before any agreement is finalized. He emphasized that outsourcing would not eliminate a youth theater program in Farmington but would change who operates it. "This would not mean losing a youth program, but rather expanding programming," Mellor said. The Council did not take formal action on the proposal; Mellor said he will bring a concrete proposal back to the Council before any contract is executed.
The next step is for staff to draft an RFP and a one‑ to two‑year contract template for Council review. Councilmembers asked staff to ensure any contract preserves Farmington’s discretion over programming content and stage use.
