• City sets hard cap on pool spending. City Councilors voted unanimously Tuesday evening on a resolution to set a hard cap on how many tax dollars the city can spend on the Frank Olson indoor recreation center. That limit is $49,350,000 – or, put another way, a 5% variance on the $47 million cap set about a year ago now. The resolution also clarifies that any private donations must be consistent with the already-approved schematic design for the facility.
  • Council approves 'Kirby Pool.' Councilors also voted unanimously to name the new "Kirby Pool at the Frank Olson Recreation Center" to recognize a $1 million donation from Jennifer and Joe Kirby to support the construction of the new facility. That vote was initially deferred because of an overall discussion on what the indoor rec center should cost, but this week councilors came back with the above resolution to solve that consternation.
    • Councilor Rich Merkouris also noted the Kirby donation serves as an example for other donors because it's a naming rights agreement set for 20 years, not just "in perpetuity."
    • "In the future, people are going to be sitting in our seats, and they're going to have an opportunity to do another gift or another sponsorship for 20 years," Merkouris said. "So I think it's a huge opportunity the Kirbys have given the city."
  • More Community Partners Program contracts approved. The City Council on Tuesday approved another couple of contracts related to the Community Partners Program – the city's new way of supporting nonprofits. Tuesday's contracts included approval for $65,000 for REACH Literacy to support classes for English Language Learners. The council also approved a $130,000 contract with the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House to support the shelter's operations.
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