More Fun Funding the MUF
Recreation Commission discussed strategies to meet minimum of $1.5 million in unmet funds
At this week’s Mammoth Lakes Recreation Meeting, Commissioners and Town staff discussed the remaining unmet funding needs associated with the Multi-Use Facility (MUF).
At the May 17 Town Council meeting, councilmembers voted to approve funding of the full project in the amount of $9.5 million. Of that $9.5 million, $4.9 million was allocated from bond proceeds secured by leveraging Measure R funds, $2.6 million was allocated from Measure R reserve funds, and $500,000 was allocated from Measure U. As of December 2016, the estimated cost of constructing the MUF was $10.6 million. After receiving comments from the public, a few components of the project have been cut out, to bring the projected cost down to $9.5 million.
The $9.5 million allocated by council covers preliminary site-work and construction of a 30,000 square foot MUF with a functional ice rink that can be converted to a RecZone in the summer. It also covers construction of a 5,000 square foot community center, a 2,400 square-foot “conditioned community space”, a 2,200 square foot community gathering space and entry area, as well as space for staff offices, locker rooms, restrooms, and concessions. The removal and reinstallation of the existing playground structure is also covered.
The $9.5 million does not cover “non-essential” items. Items not included in the allocated $9.5 million are landscaping, irrigation, the outdoor hard space, site furnishings, sport court material to convert the ice rink to a RecZone, sports equipment, or racks for equipment storage. Additionally, there is no identified funding source for a construction management consultant. On the “wish list” are an expanded Community Center “support space” of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet and a fully reconfigured playground that includes “inclusive features” for physically and mentally handicapped adults and children.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Recreation Manager Stuart Brown told Commissioners that staff is in the process of negotiating a two-year extension of the current lease that allows the Town to operate the existing ice rink and RecZone facilities on Mammoth Unified School District (MUSD) property. The extension would run through July 2019. Brown said he does not have an estimate for how much the new lease will cost the Town at this time, but that MUSD would like to have an analysis conducted of the site to determine what it would take to restore it to its original state at the end of the lease’s duration.
It is unknown how much it would cost the town to make alterations to the site that currently houses the ice rink and RecZone, and the cost of doing so is not part of the $9.5 million committed for the MUF by Town Council.
