Aquatics committee to hear from consultants today, Wednesday

Cape Girardeau�s Aquatics Facilities Committee will hear from three consulting groups today and Wednesday as it seeks to settle on a consultant to guide the planning process for an indoor aquatic center.

Parks and recreation director Julia Jones said six consulting groups submitted qualifications. The committee, comprised of representatives of the city and the Cape Girardeau School District, narrowed the list of consulting groups to three.

The presentations this week will be open to the public, Jones said. They will be held at the SportsPlex.

Incite Design Studio and its partnering firm, Counsilman Hunsaker, will make a presentation at 1 p.m. today, Jones said.

The partnership of Jacobs and Ballard King will make a presentation at 1 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a presentation by Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative and Ballard King.

According to the agenda, each consulting group will have 45 minutes to make its case to the committee. After each presentation, committee members will have 15 minutes to ask questions.

Incite Design Studio has offices in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Its partner, St. Louis-based Counsilman Hunsaker, has been involved in development of several indoor aquatic centers, according to the company�s website.

Both Jacobs of St. Louis and Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative of Colorado are partnering with Ballard King, a consulting firm that, according to its website, focuses on planning for recreational facilities.

Jones said the three groups chosen to make presentations have �more experience� in planning for indoor aquatic centers.

The city will pay for the consultant group, whose hiring requires approval from the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Jones said the consulting group hired by the council will help determine what are the �biggest needs� in terms of programs and activities for an aquatic center.

Public meetings will be held as part of the planning process.

�That is really the first step,� she said.

In addition, the group will research other aquatic facilities and plan for a �sustainable� facility whose design would minimize operational expenses while maximizing revenue, Jones said.

The consulting group will also consider �where is the best location� for such a facility as well as identifying funding partners that could help the city pay for construction and operation of an aquatic center, Jones said.

City officials have said they hope to partner with the school district and possibly other groups on the project.

Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Neil Glass serves on the committee. He has strongly suggested building the facility on land owned by the school district and the city near Jefferson Elementary School. But committee and city officials have said no site decision has been made.

Glass has said any funding from the school district depends on voter approval of a bond issue in 2019 or 2020.

Voters in April extended the city�s parks/stormwater sales tax, which will generate money for a long list of projects, including an aquatic center.

Jones said this summer the project could carry a $12 million to $15 million price tag. The city would contribute $6 million to the project, officials said.

A new aquatic center would replace the aging Central Municipal Pool operated by the city and school district.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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