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Council hears proposal to fund restrooms, parking at Jensen Park after Rotary backs pump track
Summary
City staff asked the Arlington City Council to cover remaining costs for a restroom and expanded parking at Jensen Park from the REIT 1 fund balance after the Rotary Club pledged $50,000 toward a separate pump‑track design and committed to its construction; no formal funding vote was recorded in the transcript.
The Arlington City Council heard a staff request to fund the city’s remaining share of a Jensen Park improvement project, including restrooms and an enlarged parking lot, after the Rotary Club pledged $50,000 toward design of a separate pump track and committed to that construction.
Paul (staff member) told the council the pump‑track portion is a public‑private partnership and that city staff have been unsuccessful finding grant money to cover the city’s portion. He said some county funding for the project is about to expire, and the staff recommendation is to pay the city’s balance out of the REIT 1 fund balance.
The Rotary Club’s $50,000 pledge, Paul said, covers the pump‑track design only; the Rotary group “has committed to the construction of the park,” Paul said. The restroom and parking work described to council are a separate phase and are not included in the Rotary figures. Paul also said the city would install modular concrete restroom buildings similar to other city parks.
Councilmembers asked several clarifying questions. Councilmember Heather Logan asked whether the $50,000 from the Rotary is included in the figures before the council; Paul replied the Rotary amount is kept separate because it funds the pump track and is not part of the restroom/parking phase. Councilmember Deborah Nelson confirmed the staff had identified the REIT 1 fund balance as the proposed funding source; Paul affirmed that was correct.
Nelson and other councilmembers described the park as an established, heavily used neighborhood amenity and said restroom facilities were needed. Nelson described bringing grandchildren to the park and said the lack of restrooms requires hurried returns home. Paul said the restroom units will be smaller, modular concrete buildings, similar to those at Heller and Smoky Point parks.
The transcript does not record a formal motion or a recorded vote on this specific funding request; the item was presented for council consideration and questions. The council then moved to the next agenda item.
