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Council leans toward renewing event coordinator contract and discusses aquatic center finances
Summary
Council signaled support for continuing the city's $25,000 event-coordinator contract (Morgan) to preserve high-profile events, and discussed aquatic center finances, concession contracting, sponsorship banners and long-term capital needs including a $280,000 pool-liner replacement estimate.
The council reviewed staffing and contracting for city events and an operational update on the Northshore Aquatic Center, and generally favored maintaining an experienced external event coordinator while exploring long-term funding strategies for the pool.
John Call briefed the council on the city's practice of contracting a single events coordinator to manage six major annual events (Easter egg hunt, Arbor Day, Movies in the Park, trunk-or-treat, North Pole and Cherry Days). He said the current contract is about $25,000 and noted the coordinator has generated sponsors that reduced city costs for some items.
Councilors expressed concern that shifting all event responsibilities to in-house staff could overload employees and harm event quality. Several members said the coordinator's local relationships and sponsorship know-how yield tangible value for the city; staff will draft a clarified contract and return it for formal council approval.
On the Northshore Aquatic Center, staff reported the facility produced modest net operating revenue in the latest period but noted large future capital needs. Staff said the two-pool liner replacement remaining this year is estimated at about $280,000 (the project has a 10-year warranty on the new liner work). The council discussed revenue tools and sponsorships, including a proposal to offer fence/banner sponsorships or naming rights and to use sponsorship proceeds for capital reserve needs rather than the general fund.
Staff also described a recent concession procurement cycle and said the council will see a concession contract on the agenda; councilors discussed an in-house option for concessions next year but agreed the RFP winner should be allowed to serve for the current season, with contract term options to allow a transition if desired.
No formal contract vote occurred at the work session; staff will return with a revised event-coordinator contract and concession- and amphitheater-related budget proposals for council action.
