Council begins discussion of a 20-year parks bond renewal that could fund about $23M of parks projects

Jeff Watling, the city’s parks and community services director, opened an initial council discussion about a possible parks bond renewal to appear on the November ballot. Watling said the proposal is a levy-rate renewal (not a tax increase) of the expiring 8 cents per $10,000 rate and that, if renewed on a similar 20-year term, it would generate roughly $17.3 million in bond revenue. "This would not represent a tax increase, but would rather represent an extension of the current levy rate," Watling told the council.

Administration presented a package-building approach that would combine those bond proceeds with about $3 million in park impact fees and a conservative estimate of roughly $3 million in grant or other revenue to assemble a $23 million program of improvements. Watling said staff used the 2018 and 2024 park plans and the six-year CIP to identify near-term priorities and suggested eight candidate projects (each generally estimated in the $2–$4 million range): adaptive reuse of the historic farmhouse at Confluence Park into community space, Senator Bill Ramos trailhead upgrades (parking surfacing, restrooms, signage), trail design and construction on newly acquired corridors linking to Cougar and Squawk Mountain, athletic-field upgrades in partnership with the school district and Central Park pad 2 conversion to multi-use synthetic turf, Tibbits Valley Park play-area expansion and off-leash area, and additional court space (tennis/pickleball) at Central Park Pad 3.

Council members probed grant potential, joint-use assurances with the school district, geographic equity and the package’s attractiveness to voters. Watling said the city is mapping likely grant sources and updating the joint-use agreement so that capital-improvement addenda would specify access terms and make the city the scheduler for partnered fields. Council members stressed that many near-term priorities across the park plan total $80–$100 million and that a $23 million renewal would require prioritization.

Debate centered on strategy. Several councilors supported a geographically balanced bundle of projects that responds to the park plan and leverages grants; others urged a clearer central vision or a larger, single flagship project (Confluence Park phase or pool expansion) that might be easier to sell to voters. Council Member Walsh and others flagged the Julius Bone Pool expansion as an important but costly item (Watling said a pool expansion has been estimated at $20M+ and would likely require partner funding), which is why administration did not include it in the immediate levy-rate renewal package. Public commenter Christian Canam urged prioritizing trailhead safety and restroom improvements, and suggested adding cameras at some remote parking areas.

Next steps: Watling requested council feedback, said staff will refine cost estimates and grant lists, pursue expanded outreach with boards and commissions, and aims to bring a park-board recommendation in late May or early June so council can make a decision before the August 4 ballot-submittal deadline.