Parks and Recreation plans Liberty Stadium, aquatics and playground work; warns minimum-wage increases will raise operating costs

Parks and Recreation Director Amy Apple gave a progress update on capital projects and highlighted personnel cost pressure from rising minimum wages.

Capital projects: Apple reported continued work on Liberty Stadium and said the stadium work remains on track though weather delays shifted completion from Feb. 1 to about March 1. She said the aquatics and bowling-alley design and bidding process is underway but that supply-chain and inflation pressures are increasing cost estimates. Playground work at Katy Park is in final installation.

Budget pressure from wages: Apple said the department faces rising personnel costs tied to minimum-wage increases and that the community center's operating hours and staffing make it especially exposed. "The community center alone is open almost 5,400 hours in the year. So if you just take that times the $1.45 increase ... we're looking at over $125,000 in this next fiscal year," she said, urging council to consider fee and program changes to offset costs.

Parks operations and tree program: Apple said tree removal and replacement continues to be an ongoing cost because of age and disease; the department tries to replace removed trees with five new plantings each year. She also noted continued collaboration with Public Works on parking and site access improvements.

Ending: Apple said staff will prepare a user-fee study for recreation programs and facilities and will return with recommended fee adjustments and staging options to manage operating cost increases.