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.

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 2^nd rendition of a floor plan and Elevation design(s)

5/14/11 Daytime Open House with 2^nd 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.

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 1^st rendition of a floor plan

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

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

5/14/11 Daytime Open House with 2^nd 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.

Star Valley Ranch

Community Center Project Team

Update

February 4, 2011

 

• Future CCPT Meetings Scheduled:

2/9/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M.

2/22/11 at SVR Town Hall 9:30 A.M.

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

• Future Meetings Planned to Gather Community Input:

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

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

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

5/14/11 Daytime Open House with 2^nd 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 on 1/18 and 1/25 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.  Alycyn has been able to obtain some of the approved applications for Star Valley projects from Elaina Zemple.

 

• Survey #1:  The first Survey was provided to each land owner with their annual assessment from SVRA the first week of January and the completed surveys are being compiled as they are returned.  From the returned surveys, a prioritized list of member desired space allocations and shared space utilization activities will be compiled.  A second survey is planned for distribution 2/22/11 through 3/7/11 to further refine priorities prior to meeting with the architect to commence the actual design process.

 Star Valley Ranch

Community Center Project Team

Update

January 11, 2011

• The Community Center Project Team held meetings December 9 and December 20, 2010 and January 4, 2011.  (minutes are available)
• The following are items of significance from the initial meeting on December 9, 2010 –
  • Discussion of roles and responsibilities of team members, roles of the liaison members (town council and SVRA board); and discussion and review of various historical aspects including 2006 and 2010 Community Assessments, barn/silo joint meeting, study group reports.
  • Alycyn Culbertson agreed to take primary responsibility for recording minutes of each meeting, and she agreed to be the liaison with state representatives and to obtain necessary information to understand and complete the various grant applications being considered.
  • Korry Wheeler agreed to take primary responsibility for community liaison work including obtaining community input in various media forms as required by the grants.
  • Kirk Sessions agreed to be primarily responsible for dealing with architect and obtaining technical assistance.
  • The following are items of significance from the meeting on December 20, 2010 –
    • Elaina Zempel (SW WY Regional Director – WY Business Council) provided extensive advice and insight during her attendance at this meeting.  (see minutes)
    • Each member had been emailed and was given a hard copy of grant applications for Community Facilities, Community Readiness and Business Committed.  A combined and consolidated version of all 3 grant apps was also provided with team members responsibilities assigned based on areas of expertise.
    • Key dates approaching – DCCR mailing Jan 3 and Assessment/News mailing Jan 10.  All agreed that we should include the first community survey in the Jan 10 mailing.
    • The following are items of significance from the meeting on January 4, 2011
      • Refine items to be included in survey to be mailed Jan 10.  (HANDOUT)
      • Complete detailed review of consolidated grant app with designated team member responsibilities – discuss timeline
      • FUTURE AGENDA – establish definitive timelines for each team member’s responsibilities – next meetings 1/18/11 SVRA Office and 1/25/11 Town Hall.