Council approves grant application for athletic-field lighting; parks director outlines $800,000 project with 50% match

The Incla City Council approved Resolution 1874 on April 27 authorizing the mayor to submit a Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) youth athletic facilities grant application for relamping and lighting work at city athletic fields.

Parks Director Aliyah Hibbs explained that earlier budget estimates are now insufficient because of rising costs. The grant request would seek $400,000; Hibbs said the city can leverage $202,000 in previously budgeted impact fees and would plan to budget an additional $198,000 during the 2027 budgeting process to meet the 50% match requirement. She added the project includes a 15% contingency and that the combined project budget would be roughly $800,000.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the match. Hibbs corrected an earlier staff memo and confirmed the city already has $202,000 in impact fees available and that the remaining match would be budgeted in 2027. CSC committee members had recommended approval pending confirmation of the matching requirement; the council moved, seconded and approved Resolution 1874.

The resolution authorizes staff to submit the grant application and, if successful, to proceed with design and budgeting steps that include identifying exact funding sources and contingency use in 2027 budget planning.