DocumentsAppendixFeb 28, 2023Pages 11–14
YMCA Attachments (scanned pages)
Scanned attachment pages (image-dominant) associated with the YMCA report and correspondence; contain supporting letters and documents.
Key facts
- Pages flagged as scanned/image-dominant (OCR quality: scanned_or_ocr_needed)
- Part of the YMCA attachments package for agenda item 4.2
- Pages: 11–14 (image assets present)
Westhills Land Corp. — Letter to City of Langford
CONFIDENTIAL
February 14, 2023
957 Langford Parkway
Victoria, BC V9B 0A5
T: (250) 383-9281
F: (250) 478-6671
www.westhillsbc.com
City of Langford
877 Goldstream Avenue
Victoria, BC V9B 2X8
Attention: Darren Kiedyk
Dear Darren:
Re: YMCA Rent and Arrears
Enclosed please find a copy of our letter to the YMCA of today's date. As you know, we are very willing to work with the YMCA and the City to make the YMCA the ongoing success it should be. We are concerned however, that the YMCA may not be taking this matter as seriously as it should be. This is evidenced by the fact that the YMCA appears to have had approximately $8.4 million dollars in liquid assets as at the end of 2021, while allowing the arrears it owes Westhills to build up to over $1.6 million dollars, while ignoring our offer to meet with the board to explore solutions. In addition, though we understand that the YMCA, like all businesses, is experiencing struggles with labour and other issues coming out of the pandemic, we feel that they may need some direction and support in getting back on track.
As noted in our letter to them, the YMCA fitness centre is only open until 7:45 Monday to Friday, and until 4:00 on weekends, as compared with the JDF fitness centre, which is open until 10:00 Monday to Friday, and 8:00 on weekends, a fact which concerns us. In addition, we would love to help the YMCA get word out to Westhills (and greater West Shore) residents - with whom we have several means of direct contact - about the YMCA and its offerings. We have made this offer to the YMCA several times, and with the exception of including a fairly basic flyer in one mailout last year, they have not taken us up on these offers. One thought we had, which we have not mentioned to the YMCA but which we wanted to raise with the City, was the possibility of the City leasing space from the YMCA to operate a youth centre. This was a focus for supporters of Mayor and Council during the election, and the YMCA facility contains a space originally designated to be a youth centre.
The Westhills YMCA is an incredible one-of-a-kind facility. It is irreplaceable, in location and design, and it would be impossible for the YMCA to construct it now for anything close to the equivalent of its rental investment. None of the parties want to see this enterprise fail, and so we are asking that the City take all reasonable steps to ensure the YMCA's success. Please let us know what we can do to be helpful in this process.
Yours truly,
Westhills Land Corp.
Per:
Ryan McKenzie
Manager
Encl.
Westhills Land Corp. — Letter to YMCA‑YWCA of Vancouver Island (Board & Derek Gent)
CONFIDENTIAL
February 14, 2023
957 Langford Parkway
Victoria, BC V9B 0A5
T: (250) 383-9281
F: (250) 478-6671
www.westhillsbc.com
YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island
1319 Westhills Drive
Langford, BC V9B 0S2
Attention: The Board of Directors of the YMCA-YWCA and Derek Gent
Dear Derek and Board Members:
Re: Westhills YMCA
Thank you for your letter dated January 30, 2023. While we understand that the YMCA is having some ongoing challenges, we were disappointed with your response to our letter. Westhills' accommodations to date have been entirely voluntary; we are not obligated to accept less than full rent from the YMCA, and we feel that we have been more than reasonable in doing so for an extended period of time through, and coming out of, the pandemic. We do appreciate that the YMCA increased its monthly rent payment to 85% of the amount owed in February however we have been clear in recent correspondence that we will not accept less than full rent at this time and that a plan must be made to address the over $1.6 million in arrears currently owing. We were also disappointed that you did not take us up on our offer to meet with the YMCA Board to discuss these issues.
You have advised that the YMCA's revenues have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and we trust that you are doing everything possible to increase those revenues. We do have some concerns about the YMCA's current operating hours, particularly for the fitness centre. The YMCA fitness centre is currently only open until 7:45 Monday to Friday, and until 4:00 on weekends. With the fitness centre being in direct competition with the JDF fitness centre, which is open until 10:00 Monday to Friday, and 8:00 on weekends, it's not surprising that new members might choose the latter. We are also unsure about the intensity of the YMCA's public efforts to recapture the membership lost during the pandemic. Westhills has offered to use our resources such as social media, resident mailouts, etc. to assist the YMCA and we have seen very little uptake from the YMCA on these offers. Also, while service levels and programming are between the YMCA and the City pursuant to the Services Agreement between the two, we are certainly supportive of the City providing additional support to the YMCA, and we have no doubt that you are working with the City to achieve this.
On a final note, we are aware from financial statements previously provided that the YMCA that as of the end of 2021, the YMCA had $8.4 million in cash and other investments, and is therefore capable of paying full rent to Westhills. We do not feel it is reasonable of the YMCA to ask Westhills to allow further arrears to build up while it retains millions of dollars itself. On that note, we would appreciate being provided with the most recent copies of the YMCA's financial statements including the balance sheet.
We are, as always, happy to discuss these matters and to work with the YMCA to facilitate its future success, but we must reiterate our request that full rent be paid starting immediately, and that a plan be developed to address the arrears. We remain more than happy to meet with yourself and the Board.
Yours truly,
Westhills Land Corp.
Per:
Ryan McKenzie
Manager
cc: City of Langford – Attention: Darren Kiedyk
Breakwater Realty Inc. – Attention: Deb Moore
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