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City shifts $830,000 within parks capital budget and expands Ottawa Hills contract to support Houseman Field work
Summary
The fiscal committee approved a budget substitution of $830,000 within parks capital projects and authorized an additional $123,650 to a contract for Ottawa Hills Park to support demolition and on-site contractor assistance for a community-built playground at Houseman Field; $550,000 in bond funds were added to the project financing stack.
The fiscal committee approved a budget substitution moving $830,000 within parks capital projects and authorized an expanded contract with Keterberg Verhaeg Inc. to cover contractor support for a community-led rebuild at Houseman Field.
Laura Claypool of the Parks Department told the committee that permitting delays on the lower reach river restoration allowed funds set aside for Anabowin Park repairs to be reappropriated into other immediate park needs and carried forward to fiscal year 2027. “Essentially just kind of rearranging…it's a shuffle,” she said.
Separately, staff asked the committee to expand an existing contract with Keterberg Verhaeg by $123,650 to cover demolition and contractor support during a community build at Houseman Field; that additional work was described as necessary to prepare the site and assist volunteers with foundation augering and other tasks during a tight schedule of community build and open-house events. Staff also authorized using $550,000 in existing bond funds that had been omitted from the original authorization, bringing the overall Ottawa Hills/Hausman project funding stack to include park funds, DNR Trust Fund grant money and the newly added bond allotment.
The committee approved the budget substitution and the contract expansion by voice vote and recorded “aye” votes; staff said Houseman Field had a ribbon-cutting the week prior.
No objections were recorded in the committee discussion; staff said the scope change was to provide on-site technical support and that construction and programming funds for other parks projects will be reappropriated as needed.
