Huber Heights, YMCA mending strained ‘marriage’

Councilman — once skeptical — calls for ‘nice little honeymoon.’

City officials say the Huber Heights relationship with the YMCA of Greater Dayton is improving after a rocky start this year.

A new online registration system and improvements to shelter reservations are in the works, said Y at the Heights Executive Director Tiffany Foxx, and additional efforts are underway to co-brand the city’s partnership with the nonprofit.

“The relationship started off rocky this year, but I think you have a better understanding of what we’re looking for,” said Councilman Glenn Otto during a council meeting with Foxx.

Instead of operating its own leisure services department, Huber Heights pays the YMCA of Greater Dayton $150,000 annually for parks and recreation programming and services, such as keeping an accurate account of the city’s playground equipment and conducting safety inspections.

That arrangement began in January 2012, was renewed in February 2015 and lasts until January 2018, when the annual fee increases by $10,000 every three years until 2026. If the city terminates the contract for anything other than a material breach of contract, Huber Heights would owe the YMCA $150,000 every year until 2025 — about $1.5 million total.

The contract came under fire in May when Councilman Richard Shaw called it "terrible" and began questioning whether the nonprofit was upholding various responsibilities under the contract. YMCA officials responded, asking council to treat the organization as a partner and work toward fulfilling the contract.

Shaw now says the “marriage” has improved, saying the city and YMCA can enter “a nice little honeymoon.”

A foremost concern of council members was a lack of co-branded materials showing the relationship between the city and YMCA. Foxx said sports jerseys, staff shirts and other materials now feature the city and YMCA logos.

Additionally, the Y at the Heights plans to introduce an online registration system in 2017 that will eventually feature online shelter and field reservations. Councilwoman Janell Smith also expressed interest in new signage reminding park-goers that persons with reservations have priority at the shelters.

Foxx said she also created a more formalized process for inspecting the city’s playground equipment. Several employees will also receive park inspector certification in November.

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