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Council debates paying past-due Whitewater Park request as financials and oversight questions remain
Summary
Council members discussed a proposed third amendment to a funding agreement with the county to cover unpaid prior payments to Montgomery Whitewater; members requested more financial data, a long-term plan, and clearer governance before committing more city funds.
Council members discussed an ordinance that would authorize a third amendment to the city's funding agreement with the Montgomery County Community Cooperative District to provide additional payments tied to Montgomery Whitewater.
Staff explained the original agreement (signed in February 2019) contemplated $250,000 per year from the city; the county had requested additional monies that were not billed during intervening years. The amendment on the table would authorize the city to pay the outstanding $250,000 per year for the prior two years (roughly $500,000 total) in addition to the current-year contribution.
Several councilmembers expressed frustration that the county had not fully complied with earlier understandings, and that the city had already invested substantially in the Whitewater project. One councilmember said the city had "given them $10,000,000" and questioned why additional requests were being made for other amounts. Another asked for a clear long-term financial plan because the Whitewater facility has run annual operating losses in recent accounts; one councilmember cited a roughly $2.8 million loss in the prior year as material context for deciding whether to provide additional ongoing support.
Councilmembers raised questions about governance of the Whitewater board, seats for city representatives, and how the facility will be managed. Staff and other speakers said the county and other entities hold seats on the Whitewater board; the council currently appoints one representative and the mayor appoints the city's member. The Whitewater speaker said the board believes an executive director has been identified (Jason Wilson) and invited councilmembers to attend the Whitewater board meeting to review operations and financials.
Councilmembers asked that staff provide full, timely financial statements, a multi-year operating plan, and an explicit proposal for how any additional city funds would be used before the council amends the funding agreement. No final vote to approve the amendment was recorded in the transcript; the issue remained under discussion pending delivery of financials and a management plan.
