Subject:
Title
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Capital Campaign Framework: Fundraising for an Aquatic & Fitness Center
Body
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
Following extensive public engagement and feedback collected as part of the Annex Property Feasibility Study, the Town Council has expressed strong interest in pursuing the development of a recreational Aquatic and Fitness Center to serve Town residents. The capital project is intended to meet identified community needs for expanded recreational and fitness facilities and year-round aquatic programming.
To help fund the capital costs of the project, the Council is considering a proposal to increase the meals tax by 1% for ten years. In response to this discussion, the Council has also expressed interest in exploring a capital campaign that could offset a portion of the project’s cost and potentially reduce the duration of the meals tax increase. Staff were directed to develop and present a Capital Campaign Framework.
OVERVIEW:
The purpose of the upcoming Council work session is to present a draft framework for conducting a capital campaign to support the development of an Aquatic & Fitness Center. This framework is intended to outline the essential components required to carry out a successful campaign, including:
• Suggested campaign structure and leadership model
• Recommended prerequisites before launching a campaign
• Resource considerations, including staff time, expertise, and financial needs
Staff seeks Council’s feedback on the proposed framework and direction on whether to continue refining the approach in preparation for a future launch, pending Council’s decision on the proposed meals tax increase.
Attachment #
1. 06.09.2025 Capital Campaign Council Presentation
NEXT STEPS:
To support preparation efforts, the Council is asked to:
• Provide feedback on the draft campaign framework.
• Determine whether staff should continue developing readiness efforts, supporting policies, laying groundwork for a non-profit Foundation, and outline a communication strategy for the campaign.
EXPECTED COMPLETION TIME FRAME:
Work on the Capital Campaign Framework is complete until Council provides further direction or votes to adopt a 1% increase in the Meals Tax to support the construction of an Aquatic & Fitness Center. Staff can continue to develop policies and other prerequisite efforts, should the Council deem it an appropriate use of staff time.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
Staff have researched and benchmarked the framework against other successful efforts in the United States. Readiness efforts are still needed if there is an expectation to launch a capital campaign in the Fall of 2025. Other efforts, like the development of supporting policies and initial work to create a non-profit Foundation, will benefit the Town regardless of whether the Council decides to pursue construction of an Aquatic & Fitness Center.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
The Department of Parks & Recreation staff recommend the Council to direct staff to complete work to finalize polices related to fundraising and start the lengthy process of creating a non-profit Foundation as a fundraising entity to support Parks & Recreation initiatives, independent of whether Council votes to increase the Meals Tax by 1% and directs the Town to move forward in constructing an Aquatics & Fitness Center.