Council approves $136,040 amendment for Disciple Drive park design after resident questions scope and duplicate charges

The city council approved a resolution to accept a $136,040 fee proposal for additional design support and architectural construction documents for the park project along Disciple Drive.

A resident, Patty Lack, testified that the current proposal differs significantly from the April submission — citing removed items such as a south entry driveway, separate large and small playgrounds consolidated into a single adventure playground, conversion of two dog parks into one, fewer pickleball courts and the apparent absence of retention ponds. Lack said she compared the April proposal (previously approved at higher cost) and the current attachments and identified about 10 notable changes she said reduce deliverables while the city is being asked to pay more.

Lack also alleged the city was being charged twice for tree surveys and questioned invoiced meeting charges, saying earlier meetings were billed at higher amounts and that the current package includes additional line items (for example, a $4,500 tree survey now and a prior $16,000 tree survey listed previously) that could amount to duplicated work. She urged the council to table the matter or seek reductions before approving any additional payment.

Mayor and city staff responded that the original, full “wish list” for the 17-acre site was estimated at about $14 million, far beyond the grant and capped local funding available now. Craig, a staff member, said the city is obligated to spend existing grant funds and that the current amendment will move plans from 60% to 100% for elements the city can reasonably build within a $3.7 million cap; staff emphasized the grant has a deadline and that timing requires prompt action to secure required deliverables under the grant guidance.

After discussion and public comment the council voted; the mayor announced the motion "does carry," approving the agreement as presented. The transcript did not include a roll-call vote tally or further details about whether the resident’s specific cost concerns will be separately audited or revisited.

Next steps described by staff included continuing design completion for grant-eligible items and pursuing funding for additional amenities (for example, extra pickleball courts) at a later date if and when funds become available.