Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cooper Spring Nature Park Foundation asks city for up to $10,000 annually for maintenance
Summary
Members of the Cooper Spring Nature Park Foundation requested the council allocate a line-item of up to $10,000 per year to maintain the city-owned nature park and said volunteers provide most labor and have raised about $400,000 in improvements to date.
Representatives of the Cooper Spring Nature Park Foundation asked council to consider a line-item appropriation of up to $10,000 per year to help maintain the city-owned park.
The presenter said the foundation manages planning, maintenance and operations of the park under the city’s approval, has raised about $400,000 for park improvements (excluding land donations) and does not rely on city staff for mowing or trash pickup. The request would allow the foundation to plan maintenance projects — for example signs and other improvements — with a predictable annual city allocation.
The foundation representative said any expenditure of city-provided funds would come before the parks board, the city manager or the council as required and follow procurement rules. The presenter described current projects, including new interpretive signs and a storage building that volunteers use to house tools and equipment. The foundation reported about $13,000 currently in its account.
Council members asked about fundraising methods and other improvements such as extending the trail system, improving accessibility and managing invasive plant species. Staff said parks budget does not specifically include the foundation request for the current fiscal year but that if remaining funds exist at year-end, the city could consider funding the project from parks’ carryover.
