Council adopts FY 2026–27 budget after contentious debate; commissions $15K sound study for Memorial Park pickleball noise

Staff presented the final FY 2026–27 budget and explained changes since the May proposed document: $200,000 reallocated from special revenues to the general fund for RISE housing voucher administration, reductions in chamber funding ($47,000) and an RAF (property tax) adjustment of $224,320, removal of a $60,000 automated license‑plate reader allocation, and several recurring IT and salary adjustments.

A large public turnout focused on one CIP line item: a proposed $150,000 sound‑attenuation wall at Memorial Park to reduce pickleball and bleacher noise for nearby residents. Pickleball players and advocates said the courts deliver important health and social benefits and asked the council to fund the wall; nearby residents raised concerns about early‑morning noise, bleacher‑related shouting, and potential visual impacts from a tall barrier.

Council debated options ranging from reserving the full $150,000 in the CIP as a placeholder to commissioning only a focused acoustic study and continuing a pilot program that limits early‑morning play. Staff said a qualified noise study would cost about $13,100 and could evaluate whether panels mounted on the existing 12‑ft fence and/or additional treatment near bleachers could reduce noise to levels comparable with adjacent tennis courts. Council ultimately approved a compromise: allocate funding for the noise study (approximately $13–15K) and continue the pilot program and parks‑commission review; full funding for any barrier construction will be brought back to council only if the study shows the mitigation would be effective and practical.

Council then approved the remainder of the budget and the appropriation limit with the modifications adopted that evening. Staff committed to follow‑up memos on revenues, historical staffing charts, and details on SRO duties and potential school district cost‑sharing for future discussions.

What happens next: staff will contract for the acoustic study, report results to the Parks & Recreation Commission and council, continue the pilot rules at Memorial Park, and return with recommended design and cost estimates only after confirming mitigation effectiveness.