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Council declines all proposals for Eldridge Community Center and skatepark, directs staff to pursue sale
Summary
After staff presented evaluation scores and financial constraints (insurance and property tax exposure), the council voted to decline three RFP proposals for the Eldridge Community Center and Skatepark and gave direction to market the property and consider sale; next steps include an appraisal and a possible May 4 resolution of intent.
City staff presented the results of an evaluation committee that reviewed three proposals for operating the Eldridge Community Center and adjacent skatepark and recommended declining all three submissions because none met the financial terms the city would require.
The proposals and their average evaluation scores, as reported by staff, were: Hometown Arena (submitted by Bridget and Keith Kramer) — 66.5; Keystone Early Learning Academy (Suzanne Potts and Misty Tucker) — 55; and Friends of the ECC & Skate Park (James Rederer) — 9. Staff noted the Keystone proposal included daytime childcare as an alternative revenue source but lacked required insurance documentation; the Friends proposal was incomplete and relied heavily on city support.
Staff emphasized the financial gap between the proposals and the city's needs if the facility were operated as a private business rather than a civic, tax‑exempt entity. Staff estimated property taxes at roughly $22,000–$25,000 per year if the site were not used for a qualifying public purpose, property insurance at about $8,137 per year, and market lease rates in the current market at approximately $9,400–$18,800 per month for an 18,800 sq ft commercial property. A proposer who spoke at the meeting said an insurance requirement of $1,000,000 per claimant (rather than per occurrence) drove annual insurance costs up to roughly $76,000, effectively making many proposals unaffordable.
"Taking all of that into consideration, there weren't any proposals that we're gonna be able to meet the terms that we would have to require under the circumstances," staff said, recommending the council decline the proposals and pursue other options.
On a motion and second, the council voted unanimously to decline all three proposals. Council discussion that followed focused on next steps: sharing the appraisal, placing the property on the market rapidly, possibly subdividing the north parking parcel, scheduling a resolution of intent to sell at the May 4 meeting and a public hearing on May 18, and soliciting public input on how any sale proceeds should be used (examples discussed included sidewalks, fire department needs and pond repairs).
Several council members said the RFP process confirmed the facility was marketable as a private property but unsustainable for the city to operate without significant subsidy. The city will follow up with more detailed feedback to the proposers and return to the council with legal and procedural guidance.
