Council approves community center lease

Lemonade from lemons. That was the mood at Tuesday’s council meeting where a lease was approved by the city council for the Salida Community Center, formerly known as the Senior Center.

Seniors had been upset with the City at the the prospect of a renewed lease with what they saw as unfavorable terms. In December, officials had suggested lease terms of $800/year for a 10-year lease with a 90 day termination option.

The city was seeking in part to be reimbursed for insurance costs for the center, which are paid by the city.

The building was initially built on city property using money raised explicitly for a senior center by members of the community. “From the beginning it was a partnership and cooperative effort to see it happen,” said attorney Karl Hanlon.

The revised lease terms include a $1/year lease for 20 years with a 180-day termination clause.

Hanlon explained that a termination of the lease by the city in the future would need to be accompanied by a lengthy public process and a formal finding by the city that a termination is in the best interests of the citizens of Salida.

Hanlon drew attention to “whereas” clauses at the beginning of the lease, designed to give some context to any future considerations of the lease by city officials. He noted that “the outgrowth of our meeting was incredibly positive about where all this needs to go and that we need to go there together. It’s a valuable resource in the community and there are a great deal of opportunities to expand the programming that they currently do.”

First-term councilman Steve Stewart said “I’m really pleased with the discussion that ensued and with what we’ve been calling the whereas statements because I think that they really do express the opinions of most people on the council that the senior center is a vibrant part of our community and could be more so in the future. We’d really like to cooperate in that regard.”

The “whereas” clauses read:

WHEREAS, Lessor owns the building and surrounding real property known as the Salida Community Center located at 305 F St in the City of Salida (the “Premises”); and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1982 Lessor and Lessee cooperated in the construction of the current building on the Premises which was owned by the Lessor; and

WHEREAS, Lessee raised funds in the amount of $66,0000 and received a grant through the Lessor from the State of Colorado in the amount of $122,000 to construct the building located on the Premises which is currently used for the purposes of providing a senior center for the residents of Salida and surrounding Chaffee County, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, since 1983 the Lessor has leased the Premises to the Lessee a the rate of $1.00 per year for the above purposes; and

WHEREAS the Lessor believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of Salida to have an active and vibrant senior center including adult programs; and

WHEREAS the Lessee is is committed to continue to provide these services on the Premises; and

WHEREAS in order to support the Lessee in providing these services to the citizens Salida and surrounding Chaffee County, Lessor is willing to lease the Premises to the Lessee at a nominal amount; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire and intend to move forward cooperatively to ensure the Salida Community Center continues to provide services to the citezens of Salida whether at the current location or at such other location as conditions may dictate in the future; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forthe the terms and conditions of the Lease of the Premises.

Attorney Bill Smith assisted the Salida Community Center in their negotiations with the City on a pro bono basis. He highlighted the partnership between the two entities, saying that the lease is in essence a “foundational document” which speaks to that partnership, and by extension to the relationship between the Center and the wider community.

He said that the lease terms give the Center the stability of a long-term arrangement, coupled with the flexibility to make changes if they outgrow the building. “I think this has really worked out very well on all sides.”

Sally Kennet noted that she was pleased with both the lease and the recognition of the importance of the role that the Senior Center plays in the community. “I would like to emphasize that it’s important now for the community to step up and show their support for this Center because all this conversation has been about the structure. The structure without a strong program is just an empty shell. We have to have the people in the community step forward and acknowledge the importance of these programs, whether they are for older adults or younger adults.”

The overall mood at the meeting was light-hearted and collegial.

Doug Rausch thanked everyone for their work in advance of the vote, “assuming that everyone is in favor,” eliciting chuckles from the audience.

Councilman Moore quipped that the the council chose the relatively youthful Stewart and Damman for the negotiating team because anyone else on the council would have had a conflict of interest. “I should have recused!” exclaimed Tom Yerke.

The measure was approved unanimously.

Referring to his predecessor, who facilitated the construction of the Center, Chuck Rose said “I bet Ed Touber is smiling in his grave.”