Bonney Lake’s recreation program isn’t ending, but change is ahead. Here’s what’s next
The city of Bonney Lake’s continued discussion around the future of its parks and recreation program may be a “win” for parents like Melanie Roach, but she said their work has only just begun.
“These recreation classes are more than just a sports activity. It’s more than just a before and after school care,” Roach said. “It’s a sense of community and connection that you can’t get anywhere else.”
Concerns about the recreation program came after the city decided to end its interlocal agreement with the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District during a City Council workshop on Jan. 4.
The city and school district entered an interlocal agreement in 2017, which allowed the city to have “administration” of the recreation program. The agreement expires on Aug. 31, 2022, and if one party decides not to renew it, they must notify the other at least six months in advance.
On Jan. 5 — the day after the council workshop — the city sent a letter to the school district, stating its intent not to renew the interlocal agreement. While the mayor said the program isn’t ending, it’s not clear who will be in charge.
“As we’re currently in discussions with the City of Bonney Lake, it’s too early to know the organization or organizations that may be in charge of the program after Aug. 31,” school district spokesperson Elle Warmuth wrote in an email Friday to The Herald.
“This notification does not mean the Parks and Recreation program will end,” Mayor Michael McCullough said during the Jan. 11 council meeting. “Instead, the City of Bonney Lake plans to continue discussions with the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District about how the Parks and Recreation program might be revised to better meet the needs of the community.”
The city is expected to continue discussing the recreation program at a Jan. 18 council workshop, according to the city’s announcement. Public comments are only taken during meetings and not workshops, but people can still send letters to the council.
Residents shared their experiences with the recreation program at the Jan. 11 council meeting. Parents such as Roach were among the people who spoke to the council.
Rebecca Giles established the program in 1991.
Giles was the recreation coordinator from 1991 until 2013. Originally, there was an interlocal agreement between the city, school district as well as the city of Sumner. But Sumner pulled out of the agreement in 2017, leaving Bonney Lake and the school district in the agreement.
“They say the number one thing that people look for when they purchase homes is do they have a good school district? Do they have a good recreation department? How much crime is there?” Giles told The News Tribune. “All three of those things go hand in hand.”
Roach and her husband bought their first house in Bonney Lake in 2000. A year before, she started a gymnastics program for the recreation program.
All five of Roach’s children attended the school district and participated in the recreation program. Some of the programs they took part in were gymnastics, soccer, basketball as well as other after-school activities.
Roach said when she first heard about the city’s decision this month, she was shocked. A flood of emotions such as anger and frustration came at her, she said.
“I don’t feel like there was a very good picture painted for our new mayor and our new councilwoman to really understand how important these programs are to the community and that it is not just a daycare,” Roach said.
Kerri Hubler is another parent who shared the same concerns as Roach. Hubler has been living in Bonney Lake for about 10.5 years. Although Hubler’s children do not participate in the recreation program, she said the city should have asked the community for their input.
“This program is so important and vital to so many people within the community,” Hubler said. “The before and after school program — the kids utilize that and parents need it so that they can work.”
Some children who do not have the financial means to be part of other activities also benefit from the recreation program, Hubler said. Some high school students also use the program to help them with their courses, she said.
‘This process will take time’
At the Jan. 4 council workshop, city staff explained issues the recreation program was facing in regards to hiring, recruiting and retention due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some councilmembers also expressed their concerns with the city’s role with the program in itself.
“I just don’t see how the city is in the appropriate business for that when there are so many other successful private companies — if a private company can do it better and cheaper, I think they should in this scenario,” Evans said during the council workshop.
Cherie Reierson, chief financial officer for the city, sent in an email the recreation program’s revenue and expenditures from 2017-2021. Data for 2021 is not final:
- 2017 - revenue: $474,824 - expenditures: $354,126
- 2018 - revenue: $1,402,632 - expenditures: $1,218,553
- 2019 - revenue: $1,625,439 - expenditures: $1,375,264
- 2020 - revenue: $380,304 - expenditures: $816,026
- 2021 - revenue: $669,918 - expenditures: $1,003,292
Reierson said the program has been spending more than it was earning for the past two years due to COVID-19. Money is pulled from the general fund to help cover the program. Because the program is self-sustaining, it “wouldn’t be a huge hit to the overall budget,” she said.
The school district has “a great interest in seeing this program continue,” according to the superintendent’s announcement.
“This process will take time,” superintendent Laurie Dent said in the announcement. “Please allow the City of Bonney Lake time to work through their process and know that we are there partnering with them to explore ways for the Parks and Recreation Program to continue being a successful and viable option for students, families and our community.”
Hubler still hopes the city will rescind its letter of intent and remain part of the interlocal agreement.
“If we had not paid attention enough … it would have been swept under the rug and a done deal by March 1,” Roach told The News Tribune.
Under the interlocal agreement, the city or school district had to give notice of its intent not to renew the agreement by March 1.
Roach said she is happy that the city is willing to have another conversation about the recreation program and is planning to come up with a long-term solution to keep the program going.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misstated which parent hopes the city will rescind its letter. Hubler said she hopes the city will rescind the letter and remain part of the agreement. Previous versions also mischaracterized a March 1 deadline and who will ultimately be in charge of the program. That’s the date by which either party had to give notice of its intent not to renew the agreement. After publication, a school district spokesperson said in a statement: “As we’re currently in discussions with the City of Bonney Lake, it’s too early to know the organization or organizations that may be in charge of the program after Aug. 31.”
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
