Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
YMCA reports membership surge and asks Ashland to extend annual support
Summary
YMCA representatives told the council membership is at an all-time high (2,029 units, about 4,531 individuals) and asked the board to extend the YMCA contract for one year at $15,000 to support programs and supplies; the YMCA also described new and expanding programs and a completed $280,000 parking expansion.
Representatives of the local YMCA delivered their annual update to the board and requested a one-year extension of the city-funded contract in the amount of $15,000.
Kip Beatty provided staffing and program statistics: the YMCA currently has 10 full-time and about 60 part-time staff, membership at 2,029 units (about 4,531 individuals), and a 6% membership increase from the prior year. Program highlights included NFL flag football, cheerleading (about 70 participants), a new or expanding soccer program in partnership with the Optimist Club (about 258 enrolled as reported in the meeting), and plans to start NHL-style street hockey and sand-volleyball programs.
Beatty told the council the YMCA reduced a loan from $2,000,000 in 2021 to about $870,000 and is working to retire that debt by 2029. He also noted a completed $280,000 parking-lot expansion. As part of his request, Beatty asked the council to extend the YMCA’s contract for another year at $15,000 to support programming costs and supplies.
Chelsea Williams, the YMCA sports director, described a proposed adult 3-on-3 sand volleyball league planned for Sunday evenings (roughly 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) from March 29 through May 3 (skipping Easter weekend). Williams requested permission for monitored alcoholic beverages during the league evenings and said she will present details to the park board at its next meeting.
Council members asked clarifying questions about timing of trail development and park-board coordination; staff and YMCA representatives said they would follow up. The transcript records the presentation and the request but does not show the council taking a vote on the contract extension during this meeting.
