Fitness Center plan would shrink gymnastics; council reviews PARC grants and fiscal 2027 budget
May 19, 2026, 4:00 p.m. · City Administration Conference Room, 51 E. Main St.
Staff presented two ways to spend about $4 million on the aging Fitness Center, both of which would scale back or move the in-house gymnastics program that brings in $130,000 to $175,000 a year, sparking the public outcry seen at later meetings. The PARC Tax Advisory Board walked through its recommended grants, and staff reviewed the roughly $208.9 million fiscal 2027 budget and proposed fee changes, including a $2 monthly sewer fee cut and higher recreation fees.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| PARC Tax Advisory Board recommendations | Discussed |
| Park strip standards | Discussed |
| Fitness Center project scope | Discussed |
| Fiscal 2027 budget book review | Discussed |
| External accessory dwelling units | Discussed |
| General fee schedule updates | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Parks
PARC Tax Advisory Board recommendations
Discussed
Board member Hugh Johnson presented recommendations, with requests exceeding funds about 2-to-1 and a split of about 66% parks/recreation and 34% arts. City projects: Mary & Art Dye Park bond about $350,000 a year (about two years left), Monarch Park $80,000, Beehive Park Phase 1 $179,000 (fencing, restrooms), Lakeview Park Phase 1 $185,000 (restroom, playground), Boat Harbor $24,000. Arts: Fork Fest $65,000 of $66,000; a show alternative to fireworks $30,000 of $43,000; a vocal group $8,000 of $12,000; library author events $6,000 of $10,000; Sculpture Exhibition $3,000; a new bluegrass group $2,000. A library automated materials-handling project of about $1 million was not funded. For the Bethlehem/Christmas Village request, funding was limited to non-religious components such as the Christmas market. The Chamber's Josh Christensen said Steel Days fireworks quotes came from four companies and the current provider was lowest; it is giving a $5,000 credit and a free $5,000 package after last year's technical failures.
- Mary & Art Dye Park bond: about $350,000
- Monarch Park: $80,000
- Beehive Park Phase 1: $179,000
- Lakeview Park Phase 1: $185,000
- Boat Harbor: $24,000
- Fork Fest: $65,000
Item 2 · Parks
Park strip standards
Discussed
Discussion of park strip landscaping and tree rules; the topic returned in July as a rewrite of city code Chapter 12.16.
Item 3 · Parks
Fitness Center project scope
Discussed
Community Services Director Derric Rykert presented two options capped at about $4 million. Option A swaps the gym and moves a reduced gymnastics program downstairs to expand fitness space, with private gyms expected to absorb competitive gymnasts; it does not address major pool needs. Option B also swaps the gym but keeps or reshapes gymnastics toward introductory tumbling and funds pool rehabilitation (replastering the competition pool, leisure pool repairs, bubble liner, deck concrete). Gymnastics revenue has ranged $130,000-$175,000 a year but trended down. Councilmembers Carroll and Holley leaned toward Option B; Holley questioned the lower ceilings downstairs for gymnastics.
- Budget: about $4 million from general fund balance
- Gymnastics revenue: $130,000-$175,000/yr
Item 4 · Budget
Fiscal 2027 budget book review
Discussed
Finance Director Anna Montoya reviewed the proposed budget of about $208.9 million across all funds. Staffing the new fire station costs about $1.4 million; the proposed tax increase would cover about $600,000 with the rest absorbed by existing revenue.
- Total budget: about $208.9 million
Item 5 · City code
External accessory dwelling units
Discussed
Listed for discussion; the minutes record no substantive discussion.
Item 6 · Taxes and fees
General fee schedule updates
Discussed
Proposed changes included a library card fee increase from $12 to $15 for residents (members asked for a similar non-resident increase from $36), TSSD sewer pass-through fees, a Rocky Mountain Power streetlight activation fee, storm drain model review and SWPPP inspection fees, a $2 monthly cut in the city sewer fee, a sanitation tipping fee increase of about $0.65 a month, and Fitness Center fees up 3% for residents and 5% for non-residents. A future transfer-station-related revenue bond of about $15-20 million was mentioned.
- City sewer fee: -$2/month
- Sanitation: about +$0.65/month
- Recreation fees: +3% resident, +5% non-resident