East Wenatchee Sportsplex

Recently, I have been in discussions with representatives of Waste Management and with representatives of the Wenatchee Valley Sportsplex. According to Waste Management, the landfill will receive its permit to expand on May 15, 2008.

The initial drawings envision a 25-acre park that will have five multi-use, artificial turf fields. Next to these fields, the Sportsplex would build an indoor facility that would provide athletic programs and after-school programs for youth.

Contingent upon the fact that the City use the money to build athletic fields and an after school place for kids, Waste Management has expressed a willingness to enter into a voluntary host fee agreement that will provide the City with approximately $500,000 per year for the next 25 years. This host agreement will not increase the amount anyone has to pay for garbage collection. Waste Management collection fees are set by its current contract with the City.

Waste Management is willing to do this as a way to give back to the community as a result of the community allowing it to expand its landfill. Likewise, Waste Management is very committed to improving the lives of youths and feels that providing a means to accomplish this end is a worthwhile endeavor.

The preliminary estimates for the cost of the project is about $10 Million. The City should be able to obtain a bond for this amount secured by the revenue stream provided by Waste Management. This means that the project can be completed without any taxpayer money. I have made it very clear to everyone involved that the City is not willing to commit any funds to the project except for the revenue received from the voluntary host fee agreement with Waste Management.

To make sure the City does not put any taxpayer money at risk, I anticipate that the City will enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with King County Directors’ Association. This Association has installed many artificial turf fields throughout the state. By collaborating with the Association, the City simply agrees to pay an amount that is set in advance and then pay the purchase price when the project is completed. If there are any cost overruns, it would not be the City’s responsibility to bear.

Of course, things are still in the preliminary stages and all parties involved have to do their due diligence. Likewise, on the City’s end, the project is subject to approval by the City Council. But if things continue down the path we are on, the citizens of East Wenatchee and the surrounding community could expect to see the complex built in 2009 and be ready for play in 2010.

I am interested in hearing your comments about this project.