An advance funding agreement for the proposed pool and fitness center in Vienna received approval from a majority of Town Council.
VIENNA, VA — Vienna Town Council voted 5-1 to approve an advance funding agreement for design of the proposed pool and fitness center facility on Monday. The proposed facility does not have final approval, but it will start the design phase.
The agreement is for a $3 million interest-free advance from Vienna-headquartered Navy Federal Credit Union. Leslie Herman, the Town of Vienna's parks and recreation director, said the funds would go toward hiring a construction management consultant and architectural and engineering teams to complete design and construction documents for the proposed facility. The town would oversee the design process.
Town staff confirmed there would be additional decision points on the project, including awarding a contract, reviewing design and advancing to construction with cost feasibility in mind.
Town Council meeting documents said funding for an estimated $25 million project cost could come from municipal bonds and other revenue sources to include the meals tax. Town Council had passed a 1 percent meals tax increase to support capital projects, a proposal originally intended to be temporary to fund the proposed pool and fitness center.
Under the advance funding agreement, the town would reimburse Navy Federal Credit Union likely through the 2030 bond year cycle, with an anticipated closing in December 2029. The town would not owe Navy Federal Union interest on the $3 million advance.
When the pool and fitness center was first proposed in 2024 for the annex property at 301 Center Street S, the credit union pledged interest-free financing for design. Town Attorney Steve Briglia said Navy Federal Credit Union similarly advanced funds to help the town make road improvements to address backups out of their headquarters.
"They've been toying with the idea of trying to have some kind of fitness center on site, but they don't have enough people to justify it at any one time," said Briglia. "So when they heard about this, they said, 'well, a lot of our employees are residents of Vienna, can we do something like what we did for Follin Lane and help you jumpstart the project,' maybe get it started a little sooner, with the idea that hopefully their employees would be able to join."
The town attorney said Town Council could decide how to move forward with the project once the team develops design plans.
Councilmember Chuck Anderson introduced an amendment for the town to not face financial penalties or obligations beyond the agreement's repayment terms if they don't move forward with the proposed pool and fitness center. That motion failed 2-4. Councilmember Sandra Allen was not present for the votes.
"I want to emphasize to this council, I'm not bringing this up as a tactic to kill this aquatic facility," said Anderson. "I'm concerned about the town's protection in case this does go south. And all I'm asking is just what we understand to be true is to be explicitly put in this agreement, which is essentially, there's no financial penalties or obligation should we decide not to go forward."
Councilmember Ray Brill countered that the town needs to be clear what the advance funding is going toward under the agreement.
"I think that the proposed amendments adds in an uncertainty that we don't need, don't want, and I am not sure the Navy Federal would be too pleased with this effort," said Brill.
Mayor Linda Colbert emphasized the design focus of the funding agreement.
"We've not heard that it implies anything if we actually didn't build it, which, of course, is an option," said Colbert. "I guess that could happen down the road, but nothing in here says anything about building."
Councilmember Jessica Ramakis said the agreement doesn't make it an obligation
"I would feel a concern if I thought this suggested that we were under an expectation to proceed with this project in any circumstance," said Ramakis. "I don't read it that way, so I'm comfortable with it as it's drafted...But I do think this being one piece of the broader effort and the shared understanding that there are future decision points, and this is just the one about the advance."
Town Council documents indicate that design development and preliminary planning will happen in the current 2025-2026 fiscal year, followed by completion of final design in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.