by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Twinsburg -- The 4,900 members of the Twinsburg Fitness Center may see a 5 percent rate increase next year as the city continues trying to make the facility more financially self-sufficient.
A motion was introduced at an Oct. 28 Council meeting to increase annual fitness center fees by 5 percent, which would bring in between $30,000 and $50,000 per year for the city to operate the center. The city has had to use approximately $200,000 to $500,000 from its general fund each of the last few years to help the center meet its budget, according to Parks and Recreation Director Derek Schroeder.
The increase would bring yearly individual memberships to $221.76, family memberships to $424.62 and student and senior memberships to $199.08, Schroeder said.
The center is open to Twinsburg School District residents and those who work in the city.
"The increase will not get rid of the deficit and prevent the city from paying a subsidy, but it will help," Councilor Gary Sorace said.
Schroeder said he supports the "small" membership increase.
"If we wanted to offset all of the costs, we would have to crank up the membership fees and open up membership to anyone," he said. "I don't think that is what we want. Our members don't want to come in and wait 40 minutes to use a treadmill."
Sorace said the fitness center task force -- established in April 2007 with the purpose of reviewing fitness center operations -- recommended the fee increase to help cover the rising cost of salaries and other expenses.
"Last year, we recommended an initial 5 percent increase with a secondary 5 percent increase for 2009," Sorace said. "Council approved the initial increase, but not the second one."
If an increase is improved, Sorace said it will become effective in January.
Councilor and Finance Committee Chairperson Bill Furey in July proposed to Council that the city increase its fitness center membership fees by $70 per year, per member. The city would then offer a $70 annual rebate to members who are city residents, Furey said, so that city residents would pay no increase. The increase was never passed.
Schroeder explained that increased membership has helped offset some of the cost increases.
"At the end of September, we had 4,951 members," Schroeder said. "Last September, we had only 4,400."
Schroeder said the city's goal is to average about 5,000 members. He said the average so far for this year is 5,014.
Schroeder said the center lowered its month-by-month membership fee from $40 to $27, and he thinks that has helped attract new members.
"I think some people want to try out the fitness center and see if it is for them before they commit to an entire year," he said.
Schroeder said the fitness center also now offers a "non-peak hours" pass -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday -- for $12 per month.
"That was a good solution to the lull we had that time of day," he said. "Now the parking lot is full at that time."
Schroeder said amenities at the fitness center include a 326,000-gallon indoor pool with a slide and hot tub, a fitness room with free weights and cardio equipment, basketball courts, a six-lane walking/running track, an aerobics room, a party room, a stationary bike room and a childcare room.
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