City Commissioners unanimously approved a lease amendment for the Community Recreation Center during their June 4 meeting.

Commissioners approved a lease with A Child’s World LLC in January 2023.

That agreement pertained to certain areas of the city-owned facility at 801 2nd Ave. N. to operate a daycare and included access to the outside play area and gymnasium upon availability.

The three-year lease runs through Dec. 31, 2025 at $1,500 monthly.

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In June 2023, commissioners approved an amendment to the lease agreement for A Child’s World to expand its current location on the first and second floors for an additional 58 cents per square foot.

In October 2023, Commissioners ratified a merger agreement between A Child’s World and Community Early Education Center, which is the surviving entity.

Since then, the Community Early Education Center wanted to expand to provide more jobs and childcare programming and in January, commissioners approved a second amendment to the lease agreement.

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That amendment added leased space on the main floor for $850 monthly for kitchen space and $812 monthly for the dining area.

The Community Early Education Center again wanted to expand within the city’s Rec Center and the amendment approved during the June 4 meeting gives the entity full access to the property for $7,000 monthly through the remainder of the agreement.

The childcare agency will assume the responsibility of paying all building utilities, and maintain and repair the building at its own expense.

All of the other terms and conditions of the January 2023 contract remain in effect.

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“Lease terms, prices and conditions subject to change at time of renewal,” according to the staff report. “The least provides a consistent revenue source for the Community Recreation Center. [The amendment] will alleviate the city from the financial operations of Community Recreation Center upon moving to the new [facility].”

The city has had an agreement with A Child’s World since November 2003 for use of certain areas in the Rec Center.

The city has effectively stopped using the Rec Center as it opens the new indoor aquatics and recreation center in Lion’s Park.

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City Manager Greg Doyon has said throughout the development of the new aquatic facility that he would recommend closing of the existing Rec Center and either leasing or selling the building.

Park and Rec Director Steve Herrig said earlier this spring that staff was talking to a commercial real estate agent and did a walk through of the building to determine the type of lease to operate the building with some revenue for the city to cover maintenance costs or whether they should sell the building outright.