Committee approves capital amendment to fund design of cold-storage building at Apisca Park

The Finance and Personnel Committee approved Resolution 25-2-2774 on Feb. 3 to amend the 2025 capital budget and proceed with design work for a cold-storage building at Apisca Park.

Park staff said the project has been ranked a top parks need for two years and would be located between the Veterans Memorial and the baseball field. The budgeted work would cover a topographic survey, conceptual design and plans required to reach bid-ready documents and a probable construction cost estimate. Staff said the facility would consolidate ice-rink equipment, trailers and landscape attachments that are currently stored at several locations around the city.

Committee discussion covered timing, plan‑commission review and funding. Staff said plan‑commission approval would be required after the city enters a design contract. Members discussed whether to reserve parkland impact fees for other projects or to commit them now; staff said the city recently received park-impact fees from new developments and recommended proceeding because the need for consolidated storage is immediate. Staff also said some capital fund balance (about $50,000 referenced in discussion) could be used in the first year, with the possibility of offset from anticipated billboard revenue depending on council decisions.

Members asked about impacts to existing storage locations; staff said vacating the garage at San Damiano would free space for other uses, including community groups that currently store materials there. Staff estimated a design-and-build schedule could allow construction in a fall cycle if design work and plan‑commission reviews move quickly; a building kit would require additional lead time for fabrication.

The committee approved the budget amendment by voice vote; a numeric roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.