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City Council approves resolution to apply for $1 million state park grant for fountain-area work
Summary
The City Council voted to support a $1,000,000 state grant application to fund phase 2 (the fountain area) of a park project. The grant requires a 10% local match, expected to be provided largely as in-kind Department of Public Works labor; the city must front costs and will be reimbursed by the state.
The City Council voted to approve a resolution supporting a $1,000,000 state grant application to fund phase 2 of a park project focused on the fountain area, council members said during the meeting. The application requires a 10% local match that council members and project representatives said is expected to be met largely through in-kind work by the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Catherine, co-chair of Bridal Boca Square, told the council the grant is a reimbursement program and that the city must pay contractors or cover work costs up front and then submit for state reimbursement. "It's a reimbursement grant. So we have to spend the money, but the city has to spend the money and then it gets reimbursed," Catherine said. She said DPW labor and materials will likely make up most of the in-kind match.
The grant funding comes from money raised under a state bond act that had leftover funds allocated to a special parks grant program the speakers referred to as the NPR program. Council members and project representatives discussed that the city would apply for the NPR grant (not a federal program), and that the city must front costs and submit reimbursement forms to the state after work is completed.
Project representatives described the work covered by the application as phase 2 focused on the fountain area, including above-ground fountain components and significant underground work. "This part that's above the ground. It's also a lot of pipes and there's something called vault that's very big deal that's under the ground. And it also involves a stone plaza around the ground," Catherine said. She said a loan bidder has been identified though no contract had been finalized at the time of the meeting and that work could begin in a few months and last about nine months.
Speakers also described local financing and donations that will support the project while the city fronts costs: Catherine said the project team secured a loan from Columbia County economic development and received a $100,000 contribution from an entity called Spark. Project volunteers, including Catherine and her husband Keith, were described as doing much of the organization and coordination work.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution supporting application for $1,000,000 state grant (NPR program) with a 10% in-kind local match: approved. (Mover: Juan; Second: Jennifer). Recorded ayes in roll call included Council member Johnson, Morris, Kernighan, Roberts, Groening and Starwood.
- Second resolution (details not specified in transcript): approved. (Introduced by Devon). Recorded ayes in roll call included Belton, Moranti, Morris, Brian Hayden, Roberts, Romy, Starmark, Carlo and President DPA.
The council discussion clarified that the city will need to provide funds up front for the reimbursable grant and that DPW labor will likely be counted toward the local match. Project representatives reiterated that the phase covers both visible fountain work and significant subsurface infrastructure and a surrounding stone plaza.
Next steps discussed at the meeting: staff will submit the application for the NPR program, finalize contracting for construction after award, and proceed with the phased timeline once contracts and reimbursements are arranged. The transcript did not specify final contract awards or exact dates for submission or award.
