Design for Bell youth center on Gage Avenue now in progress; visible progress likely years away

A commissioner asked for an update on the proposed youth center on Gage Avenue. Interim Director Gina Skibar told the commission the city is in the design phase and staff are seeking a contractor to begin the design process.

"We're in the process of doing the design," Skibar said. "The design maybe 6 months and then maybe see some progress in maybe about 1 or well, probably 2 to 3 years." She cautioned that the project timeline is long and that the center will not be available immediately; the department plans to provide teen programming in existing facilities (Camp Little Bear and Veterans Memorial Park) while the center is designed and built.

Commissioners pressed on whether the youth center work was included in the department's near‑term timeline; staff said it was not included in immediate program rollouts and reiterated the multi‑year design and delivery timeline.