Title
Ordinance No. 25-32 Amending Budget Ordinance No. 24-104 (2025 Budget Appropriation Ordinance) for a Supplemental Appropriation to the Park Land Dedication Ordinance Fund in the Amount of $166,955 to allow the Spectrum Loop PLDO fee requirement to be used for construction costs associated with the Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park construction.
Presenter:
Britt Haley, Director, Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Lonna Thelen, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Design and Development Manager
Body
Summary:
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) Department is seeking approval of a supplemental appropriation for $166,955 from the Park Land Dedication Ordinance (PLDO) neighborhood park fund to be used for the construction of Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park per negotiations with the developer. As part of the approved development plan process, the developer for Spectrum Loop Apartments proposed an apartment complex 0.25 miles away from an undeveloped park site and offered to donate additional funds if the PRCS Department agreed to expend the PLDO fees that were obligated at Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park. This proposed supplemental appropriation fulfills the agreement.
Background:
As a result of prior negotiations for Spectrum Loop Apartments concept plan process, the PRCS Department is asking that the required neighborhood park fees that were paid be appropriated through a supplemental appropriation for the construction of Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park. Additionally, the developer agreed to donate $90,515.72 toward construction, the developer has fulfilled that promise and provided the donation to the City.
Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park was acquired through a PLDO land dedication in 2006; however, the PRCS Department was unable to secure the funds needed to develop the park. In 2021, the PRCS began a process to master plan and fund the construction of Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park. The final Grey Hawk Park Master Plan was adopted by the PRCS Advisory Board at its February 2024 meeting. In order to accumulate the funding for Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park, staff included the fees and donation negotiated as part of the Spectrum Loop Apartments development plan process. At that final Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park Master Plan meeting in February of 2024, staff indicated that a potential PLDO funding agreement was in progress for the Spectrum Loop Apartments.
The Spectrum Loop Apartments project was only required to dedicate 1.2 acres of neighborhood park land as part of the PLDO process. The required acreage did not meet the needed 3.5 acres of land to create a neighborhood park and this project was located approximately 0.25 miles from the undeveloped Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park that was in process of being master planned. The timing of the planning process for Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park and the development of Spectrum Loop Apartments was ideal to coordinate the use of PLDO fees toward needed construction fees for Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park. Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park will provide an amenity for the citizens of the existing neighborhood and the new citizens of Spectrum Loop Apartments.
The PLDO supplemental appropriation request to use the fees and donation for construction of a nearby park is a unique one-off situation that is only being proposed as a supplemental appropriation because it is the final mechanical step in the PLDO process. It gives the city an opportunity to complete the construction of Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park. This decision was previewed in the Grey Hawk Master Plan discussion in February of 2024 and again during the CTF supplemental Appropriation discussion in April of 2024.
The supplemental appropriation request complies with City Code 7.4.307.G.1 that allows neighborhood park fees to be expended within the geographic service area they are collected in order to “benefit the neighborhood for which the Park Fees were paid”. The fees contribute to the construction of a neighborhood park that until this time did not exist and will provide a park site increasing the level of service for the existing neighborhood and the new apartment complex.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
The Service area fund for this neighborhood park has $1,121,963 available.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
At the February 13, 2025, meeting the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board (PAB) voted unanimously to recommend the supplemental appropriation for the Park Land Dedication Ordinance neighborhood park fees to City Council.
Although the PAB recommended approval of the PLDO supplemental appropriation on a 9-0 vote there was hesitation. The challenge facing the PAB is money that is taken from the PDLO account to construct parks ends up reducing the available funding for new park acquisition causing an overall reduction in service levels to occur. The PAB strongly encourages additional funding for construction to allow the PLDO fees in lieu to be used for the purchase of land. A PAB letter will be provided prior to the meeting with more details.
Stakeholder Process:
Public meetings of the Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board offer the opportunity for public comment. The Regular Session meetings of City Council also offer this opportunity.
Alternatives:
Disapprove the supplemental appropriation, requesting additional information about the supplemental appropriation, or suggesting an alternative approach to the transaction.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
A Motion to approve a supplemental appropriation from the Park Land Dedication Ordinance (PLDO) neighborhood park fund balance in the amount of $166,955 for Grey Hawk Neighborhood Park construction.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 24-104 (2025 Budget Appropriation Ordinance) for a Supplemental Appropriation to the Park Land Dedication Ordinance in the Amount of $166,955 for the construction of Grey Hawk Park.