City Council accepts Conservation Futures funds

The Spokane City Council voted 4-3 Monday to accept funding from Conservation Futures and tear down the old YMCA building in Riverfront Park and restore the site to a natural state.

Debate over the fate of the building has gone on for the past year. In 2006, the Parks Board placed a $1 million deposit on the building after finding out that a private developer wanted to turn the site into condominiums. The Spokane City Council completed the purchase of the building three years later by borrowing $4.3 million from the Water Departments Enterprise account. The debt has yet to be repaid.

The council reviewed proposals from private developers for the redevelopment of the former YMCA building with the hopes that one might produce the finances needed to pay off the city's debt.

"But out of the three submittals received, none was more than a dream for some nebulous use that included no financial viability, as required for the proposed use, and also no financial recovery method for the city," City Councilman Robert Apple said.

Conservation Futures funds would pay for the City's $4.3 million debt if the building is torn down and that parcel of land is turned into part of the park.

Before the vote, council members had the opportunity to explain their positions.

"This has been going on for way too long," Apple said. "Spokane City Council members that don't want Conservation Futures to pay for this has literally stalled the vote. The reality is, there are no other options."

City Councilman Richard Rush was among those against accepting Conservation Futures funds.

"We all want what's best for our community," Rush said. "We all want what's best for Riverfront Park. We are agents of fiscal responsibility. Using that money opens all sorts of risks."

He pointed out that in the past 16 years, $2.9 million was spent on 223 acres of Conservation Futures land. The land on which the YMCA building sits is less than one acre, for which $4.3 million will be used.

"I think we should use the economic use of the building. We should have it pay for itself," Rush said.

Apple questioned what other options the city had.

"If the City doesn't accept Conservation Futures funds, the City has to figure out a way to pay our debt. If you just look at the well—being of the city, Conservation Futures is the way to go."

Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin disagreed.

"I very much struggle on using those amounts of dollars on one acre of land," she said. "We need to be patient and wait awhile and see where the economy goes."

"But a ‘wait and see' method doesn't pay the bills," Councilwoman Amber Waldref said. "As I see it, we have the importance of environmental protection to consider and fiscal responsibility. Conservation Futures meets both those goals."

After heated discussion, a severely divided City Council voted to accept Conservation Futures funding.

"The decision was the right thing to do," Apple said.
The city staff will now seek the necessary permits to tear down the building. However, it will not be that simple.

Conservation Futures requires the removal of the building within seven years and no funds will be provided until removal, according to Parks Board member, Randy Cameron.
"We do have the luxury of renting the building prior to demo for additional funds to help offset costs. However, we have attempted to secure tenants several times with no success," Cameron said.

Furthermore, Conservation Futures funding is not guaranteed until approved by the County Commissioners. Even if approved now, the County Commissioners vote annually. Should they vote "no" at anytime, all funding stops for that year, according to Cameron. The Park Board must then fund the debt service out of its annual budget.

There are also two threats of legal action should the building be demolished which must be addressed, Cameron said.

"There will still be hurdles," Apple said. But in the end all will be thankful for the expansion of "a park we all love as they are able to stand upon the extended banks and witness the turbulence of the river."