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Palatka staff to return with splash‑pad feasibility study after commissioners demand maintenance, cost details
Summary
City staff told the commission July 24 that an engineering feasibility study on a proposed splash pad will be completed by mid‑August; commissioners and public speakers said the city needs detailed cost, maintenance, health‑safety and water‑usage information before committing.
City staff told the Palatka commission on July 24 that an engineer’s feasibility study on a proposed splash pad is underway and is expected to be complete by about Aug. 15, and the firm’s fee for that study is roughly $4,000. Commissioners asked staff to withhold final action until the study supplies firm data on capital cost, operating and maintenance expenses, water usage and public‑health requirements.
Why it matters: Commissioners expressed concern about adding a new recreational facility while existing parks show unmet maintenance needs and while splash pads can carry recurring costs and public‑health obligations.
What staff said
City staff reported that the engineer is evaluating two possible sites and that an additional public survey returned 1,557 responses. Carlo Dominguez, project manager for the feasibility study, told the commission the study cost is about $4,000 and that the firm will present a full cost and maintenance picture at the next meeting.
Commissioner and public concerns
Commissioner Davis said she had asked for detailed cost, maintenance and water‑use figures and had not received them; she told the commission she could not support advancing the project without those details. Several public commenters cautioned about health risks tied to splash pads and cited the Florida Department of Health requirements for frequent chlorine and pH monitoring, diaper policies and regular cleaning; a public commenter referenced Centers for Disease Control reporting on splash‑pad associated outbreaks — points the commission asked staff to address in the upcoming study.
Technical details the commission asked staff to add
- Capital cost estimates and funding sources. - Annual operating and maintenance cost estimates, including staff time and chemical/water costs. - Water‑use estimates and whether city potable supply or well use would be required (Triangle Park example cited by a commenter). - Health‑and‑safety plan meeting Florida Department of Health rules, including monitoring frequency, fencing, staffing and cleaning procedures.
Next steps
Staff will present the feasibility study and a full project matrix at the next commission meeting; commissioners said they would consider the matter after receiving the complete analysis. No construction or contract award was authorized at the July 24 meeting.
Ending
The commission paused action and asked for more complete financial, operational and health‑safety information before deciding whether to proceed with the splash pad.
