Pickleball court rebuild raises questions about fencing, vegetation and insurance coverage

City staff outlined a proposed pickleball court fencing replacement following storm damage and related court repairs, and committee members debated whether sales-tax funds should be allocated while reconstruction planning and private fundraising remain in flux.

Public Works project manager Ron Everett said fencing and court surfaces suffered flood-related damage and that some costs may be covered by insurance; he noted the extent of insurance coverage was not yet firm. Danny Burhell said the city had performed limited restroom repairs and is planning reconstruction work soon.

Committee members raised concerns that a local group has a GoFundMe to fund vegetative buffers intended to replace the acoustic sound-abatement panels now on the fences. Committee Member Donna Freeman recalled prior agreement the sound-abatement panels would be replaced with vegetation; staff clarified the vegetation replaces the acoustic panels, not the chain-link fence structure itself. "The vegetation is replacing the acoustic barrier, not the fencing," Burhell said.

Staff told the committee the chain-link fencing discussed in the CIP sheet refers to the structural fence that holds panels and that that fencing is planned to be reconstructed as part of repairs; acoustic panels will not be reinstalled. The project sheet shows a $110,000 request (staff listed $110,000 in the meeting commentary), but staff said insurance proceeds could reduce the local ask and that the vegetation is being funded privately by a neighborhood group.

No final funding decision was made; members asked staff to reconcile the project description with recent changes and the pending reconstruction schedule before the committee ranks the project.