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Veterans Park committee seeks $150,000 to fully fund Circle of Honor design; commission vote set Jan. 28
Summary
Committee staff said the Circle of Honor project has a $1.4 million base budget and a requested $150,000 amendment, with a City Commission second reading scheduled for Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.; contractor selected and limited environmental impacts noted.
The Veterans Park Ad Hoc Committee was updated on Jan. 22 that the Circle of Honor design is ready to move to construction if the City Commission approves a requested $150,000 budget amendment.
Mister Nelson, a City staff member, told the committee the current project budget is $1,400,000 and “we have asked for the additional hundred and 50,000 to fully fund the plan that was approved by this committee.” He said the amendment is scheduled for a second reading at the City Commission meeting on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m., where there will be an opportunity for public comment.
The amendment matters because it would fund the design the committee approved and reduce or eliminate previously discussed value‑engineering options, staff said. Nelson said a contractor has been selected and that design details — including landscape plans and a tribute program that allows donations for benches and flagpoles — are in the package forwarded to the commission.
Committee members discussed construction‑phase risks and contingencies. Nelson reported that gopher tortoises would be kept on site and that, based on the drawings, the project would likely impact only one animal. Committee members emphasized native landscaping and asked that updates be provided as construction begins; staff said the design shows tree removals and retention areas and that the plan was intended to keep the site “as natural as we can.”
Committee members were told that if the commission does not approve the additional funding, the group could call a special meeting to consider design changes to reduce costs. Nelson said first reading of the budget amendment occurred Jan. 14 and that there had been little discussion opposing the project at that hearing.
The committee encouraged a public showing of support at the Jan. 28 commission meeting and noted that speakers must sign up for public comment when they arrive. If the commission approves the amendment, staff said the project could begin and the committee would shift to construction updates.
