Amazon to fund RV parks at EOTech; city to operate separate event campground

City Manager Byron Smith said the city and Amazon have an agreement for Amazon to construct RV-parking facilities at the EOTech event site. The contract calls for approximately $8 million in construction costs to be paid by Amazon and will provide two distinct camping areas: one park with about 100 spaces reserved for Amazon contractors and employees and a second park intended for EOTech events and public use.

Smith described the arrangement to the committee: "It's a 100 space park that's ours. Amazon's paying for it, but it's ours. Amazon folks get to camp there. And then if none of them are there, then we have the ability at some point in time to use some of those spaces on a one-for-one basis." He added the event park is a separate area that the city will control without strings attached.

Smith said the city expects the Amazon-reserved spaces to be largely occupied year-round by contractors or employees, and the city will receive revenue from Amazon for the reserved spaces to cover utilities and upkeep. For event use, staff estimated about 85 spaces for events with the ability to double-park to reach roughly 150 spaces during large events such as fairs.

Committee members asked for clearer public messaging about the two-park arrangement, and Councilor Doug Premer asked staff to emphasize to the community that two separate parks are planned. Smith said engineering is not finalized and that the project's detailed design will be handled by Anderson Perry engineers.

No formal committee vote was required on the EOTech agreement during the budget hearing; staff presented the plan and answered questions about operations and community communications.