Jamestown Community College President Daniel DeMarte talks with city council during Monday’s work session about the ongoing Wellness Center project. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The city’s corporation counsel is reviewing a support resolution for Jamestown Community College’s planned update to its athletic fields in partnership with the YMCA.

During Monday’s City Council work session, JCC President Daniel DeMarte updated the council on the project’s next steps.DeMarte came to the council to ask for approval of a supporting resolution for the project, now known as the JAY project and the JAY Wellness Center.

“That is an acronym that combines both the Jamestown area YMCA and the college’s mascot, the Jayhawk,” DeMarte said. “We are referring to it now as the JAY Wellness Center.”

The resolution being brought before the council was also previously approved by the county. DeMarte said the plan is for the project to continue in phases, with the first phase allowing the college’s portion of the project to move forward while the YMCA continues to work on theirs. Additionally, DeMarte said they have been making good progress on the project and this resolution would allow them to get started sooner rather than later. The first phase would allow for the college to turf their fields, something included in the plans from a year ago that has not changed. The goal is to allow for the fields to host all of the college’s outdoor sports in one space.

“We get started with the turf fields and if it is approved in the governor’s budget and we start some leg work now I’m hopeful that by next fall we will have fields to play on,” DeMarte said. “And then we would assess at that stage whether we can move forward with the plans for the physical education complex, determined by where we are in the project.”

Ideally, DeMarte said they would do everything simultaneously; the renovation of the college’s facility, the new facility belonging to the YMCA and the shared space. The overall project has not changed, he added, saying that it is still a roughly $45 million project. RFPs are expected to move forward as soon as they hear if it is included in the governor’s budget.

Councilman Russ Bonfiglio, R-At Large, asked if the stadium was included in the project, which DeMarte said it is not. Bonfiglio also asked about the college’s recent decision to close its Total Fitness operation beginning in February, which DeMarte clarified is a financial decision, and as a part of the conversation with the project with the YMCA, Total Fitness members will be able to have their costs kept low and use the YMCA. If the project plays out as planned with the YMCA moving onto JCC’s campus, DeMarte said they would structure a membership to the YMCA for employees and anyone else who wants to join.

When the updated fields are not in use, DeMarte said it will be open to others as well. The resolution DeMarte brought forward is currently in review with Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo and will be brought to the council at the next work session. Council President Tony Dolce clarified that the resolution will require nothing financial from the city and is a supporting resolution which the city is legally bound to because they are a sponsor of the college.