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April 19, 2011 Proposed Community Center-Information/History/Background

STAR VALLEY RANCH PROPOSED COMMUNITY CENTER-  INFORMATION/HISTORY/BACKGROUND

 

History – There have been several committees previously organized by the Star Valley Ranch Association (SVRA).  The Long Range Planning committee and the Barn Silo Task Force both looked at modernizing and updating the structures to better utilize the space on a year round basis.  These groups ultimately determined that the cost to residents would be prohibitive.   The SVRA had proposed that the Town take over ownership of the barn/silo and make improvements, but the Town declined as that would require a 70 % vote of the Association membership and the Town cannot financially assume the burden. 

FACTS  – Where are we today?

  • The current committee was organized as a partnership by both the Town and the SVRA.  All members were mutually agreed upon and selected by both entities.
  • This committee is focused on securing grant monies to minimize costs to residents. 
  • 3 different grants are being considered which are funded by the State of Wyoming.  Each grant application is posted on the SVRA website in its entirety allowing interested individuals to review.   
  1. Community Facilities: $1 Million grant/loan –  “…enhance existing facility for community use”
  2. Business Committed: $1.5 Million grant/loan –“…provide funds where a business has committed to relocate”   
  3. Community Readiness: $1 Million grant/loan – “…new business development thru projects such as facilities”
  • This committee is focused on preparing all of the necessary information required for application for available grants.  As part of the grant submission, a facility will be designed, based upon the desires of the community offset against financial feasibility of the various aspects included in the project.  Building and operating costs will be determined and evaluated closely in advance of the grant submission.  The SVRA Board will be responsible for the approval of all aspects of the grant application and the resulting financial requirements of the project.  Every effort will be made to maximize the use of grant dollars and reduce the financial burden to the community.

 

MOVING FORWARD IF GRANTS ARE APPROVED

  • The SVRA cannot qualify for any of the grants, only a municipality (the Town) can qualify for grants.  Therefore the SVRA will lease the barn/silo buildings and property to the Town for 40 years (required by the Grant as the Town must own or have a long term lease to qualify).  The SVRA will lease back the entire building at a rate sufficient to repay any loans and cover building maintenance costs and reserves.
  • SVRA offices will be relocated to the Community Center to allow for significant savings to SVRA in operating costs of multiple facilities (utilities and maintenance).
  • If community priorities and majority support of the membership/citizenship is evident, the current SVRA businesses, restaurant/café, bar and pro shop, will be placed in the Community Center.  What will be determined is whether SVRA will operate those businesses or if it would be advantageous to lease the space to a tenant who would be responsible for the business.
  • Numerous financing and budget decisions will have to be considered contingent upon grant funding approved and funds required for construction and renovation.  Decisions may include utilization of reserve funds currently maintained on account and or possible increases in association annual dues.

April 12, 2011 Community Project Team Update

Star Valley Ranch

Community Center Project Team

Update

April 12, 2011

 

  • Future CCPT Meetings Scheduled (Tuesdays every other week):

4/12/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:00 A.M.

4/19/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M. 

  • Future Meetings Planned to Gather Community Input:

5/11/11 Evening Open House with 2nd rendition of a floor plan and Elevation design(s)

5/14/11 Daytime Open House with 2nd rendition of a floor plan and Elevation design(s)

6/25/11 SVRA Annual Meeting with semifinal floor plan, Elevation design and model

  • Survey #1:  A prioritized list of member desired space allocations and shared space utilization activities has been compiled from the returned surveys (Korry will do a review of the results on PP).  A second survey is planned for distribution the latter part of April which will be accompanied by a detailed update of the Project and the floor plan showing prioritized space utilization.  Survey #2 will address/solicit input on building design as well as other issues.

 

  • The Community Center Project Team (CCPT) has continued the development of a Physical Floor Plan to incorporate the Priorities identified by the community members in the first survey.  Square footage requirements have been identified as well as the estimated development costs for each Priority. The Team has reviewed the space requirements together with the associated costs of each item and included as many Priorities as space and prudent financial parameters would allow. (Do a quick review of the floor plan on PP).

 

  • The Project Team is simultaneously studying several financial scenarios regarding funding costs and matching fund requirements to further support their recommendations to the SVRA Board of Directors.

March 4, 2011 Community Project Team Update

Star Valley Ranch

Community Center Project Team

Update

March 4, 2011

 

  • Future CCPT Meetings Scheduled (Tuesdays every other week):

3/8/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M.

3/22/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M.

4/5/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M. 

  • Future Meetings Planned to Gather Community Input:

4/2/11 Daytime Open House with 1st rendition of a floor plan

4/7/11 Evening Open House with 1st rendition of a floor plan

5/11/11 Evening Open House with 2nd rendition of a floor plan and Elevation design(s)

5/14/11 Daytime Open House with 2nd rendition of a floor plan and Elevation design(s)

6/25/11 SVRA Annual Meeting with semifinal floor plan, elevation design and model

  • Update:  Since the last update, the Community Center Project Team (CCPT) has met twice to continue the development of Plan Objectives to fulfill all requirements of the Grant application process.  Each Team member has been tasked to further identify the multitude of in-depth activities required to meet the plan objectives for their respective area of responsibility.  The Team also met with Jerry Meyers, the architect used by the state in the Main Street Assessment Grant of 2010, to allow members an opportunity to ask questions and assess the utilization of his firm in preparing our grant application.
  • Survey #1:  From the returned surveys, a prioritized list of member desired space allocations and shared space utilization activities has been compiled.  A second survey is planned for distribution together with prioritized space utilization plans and associated costs the first part of April.  The Project Team will be working with the Architect between now and the April open house to further refine priorities, space requirements and to commence the actual floor plan design process.
  • Alycyn will observe this year’s grant review/approval process in Evanston on 3/16-17, which will be valuable to our understanding of the preparation of our grant.

Survey #1 Results

1)    Health / Fitness Center– Health and Fitness Center was the highest priority on the list. We have begun talks with a private company that would be interested in establishing a health and fitness center at the new facility. Monies from the Business Committed Grant may be utilized to build the space for the Health/Fitness Center and the private company would pay monthly rent along with providing the equipment themselves.

2)    Large Meeting Space- A large meeting space will be incorporated into the new community center. Monies from the Community Center Grant may be used to help build this portion of the facility. The size will be similar to that of the current barn and it is possible that the exact footprint of the barn will be used, although the space will be refurbished. The space will also be capable of being split into smaller meeting areas by means of movable walls.

3)    Pro Shop- A new pro shop will be included in the new facility. The new pro shop is to be approximately the same size as the current pro shop. Monies from the Business Committed Grant may help fund this area.

4)    Grill / Café / Restaurant- Some form of eating establishment will be included in the facility. What has yet to be decided is exactly how it will look. We need more input from the members as to the size of the establishment and the scope and service provided. The eating establishment will use monies from the Business Committed Grant.

5)    Indoor Walking / Jogging Track- An indoor walking / jogging track will not be included in the plans for a new facility due to an excessive space and cost requirement. We only have so much space in the footprint of the facility and an indoor walking / jogging track simply requires too much square footage. We will however have an exercise facility that will house elliptical equipment and treadmills and the space around the walls of the large meeting area can be utilized for walking if enough people have interest.

6)    Library / Book Exchange- A full sized library would not be practical to try to put in the new facility. However, we want to continue the tradition of the library (or book exchange) that is currently in use. We will include space in our small meeting rooms to house shelves so we can continue the service that has been a tradition at Star Valley Ranch Association.

7)    Indoor Swimming Pool- An indoor swimming pool, although relatively high on the priority list cannot be included in the new facility. We run into another space dilemma as we only have so much footprint to work with. We also can simply not afford it. An indoor swimming pool can range anywhere from $1 million to $17 million dollars. There is however, going to be talk on the feasibility of putting an enclosure around the current swimming pool so that it could stay open year round. The Community Center Project Team will not be involved in these discussions as this is outside the scope of the Community Center Project.

8)    Lounge / Bar- A lounge / bar will be incorporated into the new facility and monies may be used from the Business Committed Grant. The lounge / bar will be a part of the eating establishment and will be managed by the same entity

9)    Kitchen / Serving Area– A kitchen / serving area will be included in the facility. This will be just a small kitchen with enough appliances to keep food warm or cool and also include an area where people can be served via a buffet. It will be located so it can be used in conjunction with the large meeting area.

10) Small Meeting Rooms / Classrooms- A few small rooms will be located adjacent to the large meeting area. They will be WIFI accessible and available for public use. We will also have the capability of sectioning off the large meeting room with movable walls. We should not be lacking in space for various activities to take place.  

11) Lockers / Showers- At this time we are planning on providing a few lockers that can be utilized by the public. They will be incorporated into the restrooms and will be a great resource for those using the golf course and exercise facility. Showers will not be included in the new facility.

12) Convenience Store- A convenience store will not be included in the new facility. The community center project team felt that this is a type of business that would be much better suited to the commercial development lots located near the current Town Hall.

13) Stage- A stage will be incorporated into the large meeting area. We are still discussing exactly what it will look like. It may be just a small risen area similar to the meeting room at Town Hall, or it may be more like the larger stages that are able to accommodate storage of tables and chairs underneath.

14) Space for Small Businesses- We are currently offering space to a few small businesses (i.e. health/fitness, restaurant, bar). We feel that any other space should be provided as part of the commercial development that is being pursued by the Town.

15) Hot Tub- A hot tub will not be included in the new facility for various reasons. Since we are not including an indoor swimming pool, there is no functional place to put it. The potential for abuse of such a facility in use for which it was not intended is a greater problem than SVRA or the town wants to deal with.

16) Gymnasium- A gymnasium will not be included in the new community center. A lack of enough room in the footprint and budget does not allow us to include this. We also feel that a number of other gymnasiums are to be found close by. In order to qualify for the grants we wish to receive, we must be unique from current community centers in the valley. Currently two other community centers within 15 miles offer gymnasiums.

17) Sauna- A sauna will not be included in the new facility. However, it is possible that a sauna may be incorporated with the health / fitness center, but this would be at the sole discretion of the private business that takes responsibility.

18) Concessions / Vending Area- A small area that will house vending machines will be planned for. This will allow those who are exercising or doing other activities to obtain a beverage or snack without entering the bar or the pro shop.

19) Billiards Area- A billiards area will be included in the new facility. It will be associated with the bar but have access so that those under 18 may utilize the area also.

20) Basketball Court- A basketball court will not be part of the new facility. It was not very high on the priority list and it was felt that there were a number of basketball courts in Star Valley that are already in use. Although an indoor basketball court would be wonderful to have, we run into the problem of limited space and budget. For these reason we have chosen not to include it in the plans.

21) Small Movie Theatre- A movie screen, projector system and sound system will be installed on the stage that will be housed in the large meeting room. This will effectively give us a small (or even not so small) movie theatre.

22) Art Center- Although a full art center will not be part of the plans of the new facility, we do fill it is important to have wall space available for showcasing the talents of local artists.

23) Bowling Alley- A bowling alley will not be included in the plans for the new facility. A bowling alley is too large for the footprint we have to work with and would cost too much to add into the plans.

24) Indoor Climbing Wall- Due to a lack of interest and the high liability involved with this item, we have decided not to include it in the plans for a new facility.

25) Golf Simulator- A golf simulator will not be included in the plans for the new facility. A lack of support, and too much space and cost prohibits us from including it in the plans. However, the same private business that is looking into the health/fitness center has also expressed interest in putting a golf simulator in their space.

26) Private Cart Storage- Because we will be able to incorporate this into existing space along with our facility owned carts, we will include this as an extra way to bring revenue into the Association.

27)  Bag Storage- Because we will be able to incorporate this into existing space in our cart facility, we will include this as an extra way to bring revenue into the Association.