Community center bill grows by $45,000

Military is charging the city for use

CAMBRIDGE – Cambridge’s new community center is going to cost the city an additional $45,000 a year.
Council members hope to recoup most of that through rental fees.
“There’s a lot of demand,” noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe during the Jan. 20 council meeting.
The additional $45,000 is a fee that is being charged by the military, which constructed and owns the facility.
The city is also responsible for hiring a custodian who will oversee afternoon and evening events at the center Monday to Friday. National Guard personnel will oversee events on the weekends for an additional fee ($20 an hour).
Council members are disappointed that they were paying an additional fee to the military. To entice the military to Cambridge, the city donated the land the facility is built upon (which was donated to the city by the Kelly family), and paid for utility connections at the site. Cambridge also contributed $750,000 to upgrade the building.
“I know that amount is not what the city hoped for in light of the amenities it provided to the community center,” noted Woulfe. However, she is pleased the city was able to negotiate the military down from the $65,000 fee first proposed.
Under the terms of this agreement, the city controls rental fees and the Armed Forces Readiness Center calendar.
Now that the use agreement has been approved between the military and the city, the city can begin taking reservations for events at the community center. Call 763-689-3211.
COMMUNITY CENTER FEES
Cambridge evaluated the rates being charged by the school district when it determined the fees it will be charging at the community center.
Hourly rates will be as follows:
• Assembly hall, Monday to Friday: $40
• Assembly hall, Saturday and Sunday: $60
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Monday to Friday, $75 with a maximum of $900
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Saturday and Sunday: $95 with a maximum of $1,200 per single day event
• Classrooms, Monday to Friday: $20
• Classrooms, Saturday and Sunday: $40
At this time, the city has not set up a fee schedule for fitness center use.
Woulfe questioned whether council members want to waive fees for non-profit groups.
Caulk supported reduced rates for groups like the Boy Scouts.
Shogren supported allowing non-profits free use, provided they are not charging for services.
Rates for non-profits will be discussed again at a later date, after the city’s community center task force has reviewed the issue.
CATERING SERVICES
Only one caterer will be allowed to operate out of the community center kitchen.
The city will solicit requests for proposals (RFPs) and select one caterer from those.
This is being done at the request of the military, noted Woulfe, who prefer that one company be allowed to use the equipment they have provided. Guard representatives also pointed out that they are required to adhere to strict guidelines and random cleanliness checks. The Guard is also worried about how many people will have keys to the community center.
Another pro for using only one caterer is that this company will be responsible for taking an inventory of kitchen supplies (cups, plates, silverware, etc.) to make sure nothing is missing, said Woulfe.
The community center task force unanimously supported the decision to work with only one caterer.
Council member Dave Schornstein noted his concern about creating a monopoly. “Someone could charge anything they want,” he said.
Woulfe pointed out that any caterer who wishes to submit an RFP must provide menus, sample pricing and references. This is being done so the city can evaluate whether they are charging reasonable rates.
RFPs are due via mail at city hall by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.