With construction of the first phase Community Response and Resource Center nearly complete and no agreement in place yet between the City of Fernley and the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows regarding the lease and operation of the building, the Fernley City Council has approved the forming of a committee to tackle future uses and the leasing of the building.
The council voted on May 21 to approve the formation of a committee consisting of the city council, the Fernley Community Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club. The idea was proposed by councilwoman Felicity Zoberski, who suggested having council members rotate as the city liaison each time the committee meets so that each council member is involved and aware of the issues.
Zoberski said she would like the committee to be about not just the lease of the building, but to be involved with planning for all aspects of the next phases of the center, including fundraising.
Construction of Phase I of the CRRC is due to be completed by the end of June. Phase II of the project, an early learning center, and Phase III, a proposed gymnasium, are not yet funded.
But of immediate concern is negotiating with the Boys and Girls Club for a lease to use the building. There was some question at the April 2 council meeting as to whether the Boys and Girls Club was ready to sign a lease for the building.
However, Mike Wurm, president and chief executive officer of the club, later indicated it is “100 percent our intent to be operating that building, we just have to work some details out,” indicating the club and the city are now negotiating a triple net lease, meaning the club would assume all operating costs for the building.
Discussions between the city and the Boys & Girls Club regarding the operation of the CRRC have been ongoing since October 2024.
At a meeting on April 29 between representatives of the city, the Boys & Girls Club, and Fernley Community Foundation, a goal was set to have a final draft of the proposed lease on the city council agenda for its June 4 meeting.
However, prior to presenting a final lease agreement to the council, it was agreed at the April 29 meeting that Wurm will prepare a three-year operating plan and budget and will respond with specific changes to the lease. Then the city manager will prepare the final proposed lease, based on Wurm’s input, according to the staff report.
State law limits leases of public property to a private party to no longer than three years with a two-year extension, and rents must be based on market value unless the property is less than 25,000 square feet. Since the CRRC is less than 25,000 square feet, the city council may consider a rent that is below fair market value, the staff report indicated.
Zoberski’s motion to form the CRRC committee received the unanimous support of the city council.
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