Council authorizes town staff to apply for $2.5 million in congressionally directed funding for Dark Sky Discovery Center exhibit

The Fountain Hills Town Council voted to authorize town staff to submit a congressionally directed spending request for fiscal year 2026 on behalf of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.

Amanda Jacobs, the town's economic development director, described an invitation from U.S. senators to apply for $2,500,000 to fund a STEM/scientific exhibit. Jacobs said nonprofit applicants could not submit directly this year and that a town sponsor was required. Town Manager Goodwin and finance staff outlined administrative responsibilities if the town becomes the applicant and eventual grantee: the town would serve as the recipient and would administer reimbursements to the Discovery Center if awarded.

Jacobs and finance staff said the application is a reimbursement‑style federal project and that the town may need to increase a special revenue fund by about $3,000,000 in anticipation of an award. Staff estimated grant administration could require roughly 100 hours of staff time if the town serves as administrator and that some direct costs (audit, staff time) could be drawn down as allowable direct costs. The town would not pay upfront for exhibit materials to be reimbursed until after award and performance period approval; the Discovery Center would likely purchase materials and submit invoices for reimbursement during the grant performance period.

Council members asked about legal agreements, liability, staffing and audit risk. Councilmember McMahon asked whether a binding agreement would be prepared if awarded; staff said that is expected as part of later grant steps and that staff would return to council for approval of final grant terms. Staff and council discussed the federal single‑audit threshold and the possibility of audit findings; staff said the town and the Discovery Center would each have audit responsibilities and that the federal government could seek recovery if funds were used inappropriately.

After public comment and council questions about workload and risk, Councilmember Skillicorn moved to approve staff to complete and submit the request; the motion passed on a council roll call. (Roll‑call vote recorded in meeting transcript.)

By approving the application step the council authorized staff to prepare and submit the CDS request; staff said they would return to council before accepting any award or executing any grant agreement.