Pilot Hill board seeks $1 million SPET contribution and a long-term endowment; city to review legality

Sarah Matthews Grama and other Pilot Hill representatives told council members they seek a SPET carve-out to establish a long-term trust or endowment to support ongoing operations of the Pilot Hill Recreation Area. "Our goal is to build a trust worth $10,000,000, to have it spin out what we need," Matthews Grama said, describing estimated annual operating needs of about $200,000 to $300,000. Pilot Hill board member Daniel McCoy told the council, "we will definitely be huge advocates for, going forward," if the project’s priority is raised on the SPET list. Why it matters: Pilot Hill is a sizable public recreation area used by many residents; the organization leading development wants a sustainable revenue stream to avoid repeated operating requests to local government. Legal/eligibility question: Councilors and staff discussed whether SPET dollars can be used to create an endowment. City staff said they had asked Albany County’s attorney to investigate and would consult the state Attorney General. Director Jen Wade told the council that "there are some allowances in the statute for the SPET that allow for specific purposes for endowments," but that the county’s legal review would be important before finalizing language. Council action and positioning: The council discussed moving the Pilot Hill item up in priority; the substitute resolution approved by the council includes a $1,000,000 line item for Pilot Hill support. Several public commenters — including Dan McCoy and others — urged moving Pilot Hill higher on the list during the work session. No final decision was made on the legal structure; staff will report back after the county attorney and AG review. Ending: The council included a $1,000,000 Pilot Hill allocation in the adopted SPET priority list and asked staff to confirm whether SPET rules permit a long-term endowment or trust funded via the ballot measure before final ballot language is approved.