Council debates using construction sales tax to secure $200,000 county grant for downtown pickleball courts

City staff asked the Arlington City Council to allocate construction sales tax funds to finish a downtown pickleball court project so the city can accept a $200,000 county grant that is expiring.

Paul (staff member) told the council the county awarded a $200,000 grant to build pickleball courts and that the city had negotiated a use agreement with the school district to place the courts on school property. Under that agreement the school district would use the courts during school hours while the city would make them available to the public evenings and weekends. Paul said the county grant is time‑limited and staff proposed using construction sales tax dollars to get the project to the budget threshold while the county funding remains available.

Councilmembers asked for details about the construction sales tax account and how maintenance and security would be handled. Paul said the city would handle annual maintenance (pressure washing, re‑coating, restriping) while the school district would handle daily tasks such as trash pickup; the agreement gives the school district authority to open and close the gate if needed. Paul said the construction sales tax account holds funds available for projects and that staff believed there was sufficient balance to cover the proposed use, while noting other projects—Smoky Point Park, the impound building—also rely on those funds.

Councilmember Deborah Nelson opposed allocating construction sales tax funds for the pickleball courts, saying she preferred completing already established parks (Smoky Point) and other deferred projects. Nelson questioned whether the gates would be regularly unlocked for public use and noted the school district is providing land but no cash toward construction. Councilmember Michelle Blythe also raised concerns about gates being locked and whether the public would have reliable access when promised.

Other councilmembers, including Jan Schweddy, described demand for pickleball as high and said the facility would offer a different, active amenity for adults. Staff said the county might reallocate the $200,000 if the project changes, and that extending the county agreement could be possible if the city continues moving forward; however, Paul said he could not guarantee the county would reissue funds for a different use.

The transcript records discussion and clarifying questions but does not record a formal motion or recorded vote on allocating construction sales tax funds to this project.