A proposal to withdraw $234,713 from the city's contingency reserve to support park operations failed at the July 15 Board of Aldermen meeting, 3–2, after aldermen said they were split over using contingency for operating costs.

Resolution 2025-18 would have transferred $234,713 from the contingency reserve fund to the parks fund for operations, but the motion did not receive approval. The mayor noted the board will need to amend the budget at a future meeting to identify another funding source.

"I could not find the $235,000 elsewhere without severely impacting basically having no improvements done to our parks," the mayor said, urging aldermen to determine how to address the shortfall. Some aldermen suggested waiting until the city has final June 30 figures in August to decide.

Opponents of using contingency for ongoing operations argued the contingency fund is intended for emergency or one-time projects, not repeated operating expenses. "Regaining contingency to use for operating costs is not what contingency is for," one alderman said.

At the same meeting, a separate withdrawal of $120,280 from the contingency reserve for the Jeffery White Memorial Skate Park project (Resolution 2025-19) was approved by the board.

Board members also discussed the need to prepare a formal budget amendment for any contingency transfer. Attorney Carr said state statute does not set a specific timeframe to amend a budget after a transfer, but urged prompt action to avoid longer-term imbalance. The mayor and staff said cash balances could carry parks for roughly eight weeks while the board reviews year-end numbers.

Other park-related items discussed during the meeting and in committee reports included:
- Park board requests for improved Liberty Field signage and maintenance funding; an offer from Franklin County Girls Soccer to donate materials and labor to build a 12-by-32-foot "kick wall" at Liberty Field (materials donated by Hackman Lumber), pending a "no-rise" floodplain certificate and final location approval.
- Park vandalism: board and staff described continuing vandalism to restrooms and park facilities; police said much damage is occurring during daytime hours and that camera placement may need improvement to capture identifying images. Park-board members requested exploring changes to park closing times but were told more data on timing of incidents is needed before ordinance changes are drafted.
- Operational items: a robotic pool vacuum purchase and regular maintenance items were noted by parks staff.

What comes next: City staff will prepare any necessary budget amendment for a future board packet. The skate-park transfer will proceed under Resolution 2025-19. Park board will follow up on kick-wall site selection, possible floodplain certificate requirements and coordination with Missouri Department of Conservation on fishing rules at new ponds.