Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jimmy Floyd Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lebanon residents urge delay of $3.7M Jimmy Floyd renovation, ask council to preserve racquetball courts
Summary
Public commenters at the Lebanon City Council meeting asked the council to pause a proposed $3,700,000 renovation of the Jimmy Floyd Family Fitness Center and to preserve its two racquetball courts, saying the proposal lacks needed analysis and alternatives.
Public commenters at the Lebanon City Council meeting on May 13 urged the council to delay a $3,700,000 renovation of the Jimmy Floyd Family Fitness Center until staff provides additional analysis and to preserve the facility’s two racquetball courts.
Chris Bridal, a Lebanon resident and management consultant, told the council: “I’m here to request that the decision to invest the $3,700,000 be tabled temporarily until there’s more research.” He said the working-session materials lacked a needs statement, market analysis, business case, analysis of alternatives, a facility traffic study and membership analytics.
Jeffrey Peterson, who said he moved his business to Lebanon and uses the center, told the council that the racquetball courts are a unique community asset and urged councilors to “consider finding a way just to preserve those courts with $3,700,000 we’re spending.” Rusty Richardson, a long-time member of the center, said the courts are multi-generational and create social connections that would be lost if removed. Eric Lea, another regular player, told the council he supports improvements but “strongly ask[s] that the racquetball courts be preserved during the renovation.”
Speakers said they are not opposed to upgrading locker rooms or other facility improvements but want council and staff to consider alternatives that would meet renovation goals without eliminating the courts. Advocates asked the council to seek a market analysis, membership data and a presentation of alternatives before formal budget action.
Councilors and staff did not vote on the renovation during the meeting; several speakers noted the budget will be considered in June. Mayor Bill and councilors acknowledged the comments and said the public turnout would inform their deliberations. The council approved a related vending-services resolution for the Jimmy Floyd facility as part of the consent business, but no final decision on the renovation funding was made at this meeting.
The council’s next consideration of the municipal budget is scheduled for the first meeting in June, when the renovation and related line items are expected to be discussed again.
