The Sequim City Council has approved the allocation of $5,000 to be used towards a $36,000 market feasibility study to be conducted by the Olympic Peninsula YMCA to create a business plan and pro-forma analysis for running the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC). The study will help the Olympic Peninsula YMCA verify that they can successfully perform the role of operating SARC by analyzing community needs, potential membership and program participation, the overall usage and revenue required, and the analysis of capital needs to support the facility. The funding from the City of Sequim will come from the City’s Parks Restricted Fund.
The City’s participation and support of the feasibility study expresses the City’s interest in the exploration of the YMCA becoming the operator of SARC and for the support of SARC as a valuable community resource. In addition, the study will provide the City and the community with valuable financial information that may be utilized as future plans for City parks are implemented.
Kyle Cronk, Chief Executive Officer of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA spoke to the City Council and confirmed that the organization has alredy moved forward with conducting the study. City staff has met with multiple partners interested in participation in the market feasibility study and has verified that SARC, Olympic Medical Center, the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and Sequim School District have all agreed to financially support the study. Clallam County agreed to match the funding approved by the City of Sequim. The Olympic Peninsula YMCA’s plan to fill the role as the operator of SARC, with support from some or all of the aforementioned entities to help with capital needs to sustain SARC, would not involve the creation of a new taxing district.
For more information, please contact Parks Manager Joe Irvin at (360) 582-2457 or jirvin@sequimwa.gov.