Council approves $300,000 contract for Parks and Recreation master plan after debate

The City Council on March 3 approved a professional services agreement with RDG Planning and Design for a parks and recreation master plan, with a contract value not to exceed $300,000.

"This master plan will be a, a kind of a, guiding document for the Parks and Recreation Department," Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Beagler said, describing the plan as a detailed blueprint to guide development of parks and facilities and to gather public input.

Beagler told the council the department’s last formal master plan dated to 2007 and had been produced in-house; the proposed study would include a broader public engagement process and finer detail than the citywide comprehensive plan.

Council debate focused on two recurring concerns: the value of hiring an outside consultant to produce a plan, and whether the city has funding to implement plan recommendations. Councilor John Roberts said many studies land "on the shelf" because funding for implementation is not available and said he preferred an in-house effort. "We always seem to have $300,000 or $500,000 or a million to do the study. We just don't have the money to implement what's put into the study," Roberts said.

Other councilors said outside consultants can bring fresh ideas and help the city attract private donations or partnerships to implement projects. Councilor Bill Evans argued a master plan could also make private giving easier because donors can see where contributions would fit into a long-term blueprint.

Councilor Greg Stroman and others noted neighborhood park needs and the potential to guide future donor and public-private partnership efforts.

The council voted to approve the contract; the record shows the motion passed with two "no" votes from Councilors Lehman and Roberts.