City finalizes payment for sports center

A new library in Scotts Valley is quickly moving forward as the Scotts Valley City Council approved the money needed to purchase and remodel the Scotts Valley Sports Center — the future home of the library.
The council voted unanimously Wednesday, July 15, to borrow between $1.6 million and $2 million from its wastewater enterprise fund to help close escrow on the library property by the end of the week. The cash will be added to the $2.185 million the local redevelopment agency has put aside and about $500,000 in developer fees the city has collected to pay for the library.
“This will make the process move along faster and cheaper,” Councilman Jim Reed said. “I think the people are behind this very strongly.”
The city agreed with the Slawinski Family Trust to purchase the Sports Center for $4.5 million, and the remodel will cost about $3.74 million. General obligation bonds will be sold — at no extra cost to taxpayers — to pay for the remodel, said City Manager Steve Ando.
Ando said that without borrowing the cash from the wastewater fund, the city could not have completed the purchase this week.
The wastewater enterprise fund is the budget the wastewater plant uses for capital expenses. Between $1 million and $1.4 million will remain in the fund, depending on how much the city borrows. The city is required to repay the borrowed money with interest within five years.
The sports center will remain open until mid-December. The city has leased the facility to Bob Slawinski, who agreed to continue running the complex and sports leagues until the city starts work on the library.
The complex was slated to close Aug. 15; however, public support to keep the center open led to the extension. Advocates for hockey and lacrosse are working to find a new location for a sports center.
An architect for the library remodel will be chosen soon. A council subcommittee has narrowed the search to five applicants after 29 architects applied to design the library. The subcommittee will meet Aug. 4 to hear presentations from the final five before making a recommendation to the council.
The council also awarded a $135,500 contract to Strategic Construction Management to manage the library construction project. The firm has managed projects countywide, including recently the Mount Hermon Conference Center gymnasium.