Fundraising Campaign Eyed For Vienna's Proposed Fitness Center And Pool

VIENNA, VA — The proposed fitness center and pool in Vienna could get supplemental funding from a capital fundraising campaign if sought by Vienna Town Council.

During a work session last Monday, Town Council directed town staff to prepare framework for a capital fundraising campaign, including creating a nonprofit foundation and setting fundraising policies on donation acceptance and naming rights.

Town staff said fundraising from donors could go toward the proposed indoor pool and fitness center if Town Council moves forward with it — or fundraising for other parks and recreation and town initiatives. The pool and fitness center facility has not yet been approved as the future use of the annex property at 301 Center Street South.

The discussion came as the Town Council is considering a temporary 1 percent meals tax hike to accelerate the project beyond the normal capital budget funding process. A final decision on the meals tax has been postponed several times as Town Council considers the construction and long-term operating costs of the facility and community feedback. It will head back to the council on Aug. 25.

According to town staff's presentation, the large-scale pool and fitness facility project would require years of fundraising. The goal of the campaign would be to raise funds for construction and establish a foundation where alternative funding sources could be based. Before launching the capital campaign, town staff said Town Council would need to approve the 1 percent temporary meals tax hike proposal. It would also need to approve the fitness center and pool as the use for the annex property and include it in the town's approved capital improvement program.

Town Manager Mercury Payton explained that the fundraising campaign could potentially make a 1 percent meals tax hike necessary for fewer years.

"What the capital campaign accomplishes is it is contributing directly to the aquatics and fitness center so that the years on the raising of the meals tax can come down to be six or five years on that side of the equation," said Payton. "So the benefit is that 1) the meals tax increase funds completely the aquatics and fitness center while you while being able to do all the other projects in the [capital improvement plan], and the other benefit is that the capital dollars going toward it would help the meals tax to be sunset quicker."

The proposed capital campaign would start with a "quiet phase" to seek major donors and hire a campaign manager before it goes to the general public, according to town staff. The second phase would be the public campaign, when architectural and engineering visuals would be available to view. The third phase — construction — would be another chance to recognize donors and seek additional donors. The town's desired timeline is five years, starting from the temporary meals tax launch through construction.

Some Town Council members expressed enthusiasm for fundraising to support the recreational facility or other initiatives.

"If you can come up with somebody one person or more than one during the quiet phase that has pledged $2 million, I think that would be something, that would be information that proponents of the Aquatics and Fitness Center would like to have available," said Councilmember Roy Baldwin.

Councilmember Sandra Allen said she's hesitant to support the annex property use and the capital fundraising, noting complications like paying a person to lead fundraising.

"I am a little bit hesitant to proceed if we're not going to proceed with the annex, and we're going to start asking donors to provide those funds, and then we're when we come to voting for the annex, and it's not going to move forward," said Allen. "So it's something that I don't want to vote on or support at this time."

Town staff noted that Town Council could set up a foundation or donation acceptance policy, regardless of the annex property decision.

"I also like the idea of having those policies in place, whether it's used if this project goes forward, or...there could be other ways that members of the community or other partners might like to support work in the town," said Councilmember Jessica Ramakis.

"I do think that, seems like people would be more excited and willing to give donate, if they would look for donating to something specific," said Mayor Linda Colbert. "But I think at this phase step, go ahead and move forward."

Councilmember Howard Springsteen suggested a manager be someone retired or part time, which would put less of a dent in the funds for the campaign.

One company has already offered to help the pool and fitness center move forward.

Navy Federal Credit Union, which is headquartered in Vienna, has offered to jumpstart the project by advancing initial design funds. The town would pay those funds back interest free. According to Town Attorney Steven Briglia, the credit union is also seeking an institutional membership with a number of pool and fitness center memberships. The credit union has an estimated 6,000 employees based at the Vienna headquarters.

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