City officials release all claims, obligations with YMCA for recreation center

By Beverly Bryant/News Director

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners and Ponca City Utility Authority took the final action Monday night to release all claims and obligations for the Ponca City Recreation Center operating  agreement and associated agreements.

This terminates all connections between the City 0f Ponca City and the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) of Ponca City. This action is significant because the YMCA intends to dissolve both its national affiliation and its recognitions by the State of Oklahoma. The ability of the YMCA to document the end of all obligation is helpful in wrapping up their activities.

On April 24, 2007, the City of Ponca City entered into a Recreation Center Operating Agreement with the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) of Ponca City, for the development, management and operation of the Ponca City Family and Aquatic Center.

Following construction, in 2010 the YMCA took possession of and operated the project.

The parties entered into a modification of this agreement through Addendum No. 1 as of Dec. 1, 2007. In November of 2016, the parties further agreed to a modification known as Addendum No. 2.

On June 12, 2017, the parties further agreed to a modification known as Addendum No. 3, which also involved the PCUA (Ponca City Utility Authority) as an additional party.

Finally, in the fall of 2018, the parties entered into a separate Transition Agreement for the Ponca City Recreation Center Operating Agreement.

A formal resolution for all of the agreements was presented Monday night, due to the complex nature of the project, the number of agreements and amendments made, and the multiyear nature of the numerous obligations.

The resolution mutually acknowledges the full satisfaction of all obligations and the release of all claims.