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Wimberley approves Hays County $3 million funding agreement for Blue Hole Nature Center
Summary
City council approved a diligence funding agreement with Hays County that commits $3,000,000 from the county's 2020 parks bond toward a planned Blue Hole Nature Center; the council also discussed next steps including engineering, public input and grant matching.
Wimberley City Council approved a diligence funding agreement with Hays County that commits $3,000,000 from the Hays County 2020 Parks Bond Fund toward a planned Blue Hole Nature Center.
The council voted unanimously to accept the agreement after Parks Director Richard Shaver and staff said the county's Commissioners Court already signed the agreement and the city's signature was the remaining step. Shaver said the county will provide an initial $250,000 payment to support engineering services and that county payments will be submitted directly to the selected firm during construction.
The project is a new facility; Shaver said concept drawings dated 2020 envision classrooms, staff offices, a greenhouse, aquaria/insectaria, nature-play areas, prairie restoration and wetland restoration across about seven acres. The city will issue an RFP for an engineering/architectural firm to develop construction documents, lead public input meetings and act as project manager during construction.
Council members asked about the likely final cost and timing. Shaver said the 2020 estimate of $4.5 million was likely low given current construction prices and that the engineering firm will provide updated cost projections; the city intends to pursue grants and fundraising and use the county funds as matching support. Shaver also said the center is planned to be a one-water, net-zero water-use facility.
The motion to accept the funding agreement passed unanimously; the city administrator and staff will execute the agreement with Hays County and proceed with the RFP process and subsequent design steps.
The county funding agreement clears a major hurdle for the nature center but does not yet provide construction drawings or a construction schedule. The council directed staff to return with procurement documents and the proposed RFP scope so the city can begin selecting design and engineering consultants.
