Council approves $1 million Thirteenth Street sports complex lighting project contingent on $500,000 grant and sale proceeds

The council voted to approve staff’s recommendation to pursue a grant and provide the local match to light three larger ball fields at the Thirteenth Street Sports Complex.

Councilmember Woolsey asked whether work could begin before grant award; staff clarified that only work incurred after grant award is eligible for reimbursement and that construction cannot start using grant funds before a grant is awarded. The project budget presented to council assumed a total project cost of about $1,000,000, to be funded 50 percent by the grant and 50 percent by a local match. Staff clarified the grant award being pursued is $500,000 and that the city’s recommended local match of $500,000 would come from the Development Impact Fee fund; staff said the match would be funded by proceeds from sale of a one‑acre surplus parcel (Finkelstein family property) and associated transfers as required.

Staff also provided ball‑field cost estimates during discussion: an informal estimate for the field lighting of about $740,000 and approximately $200,000 for parking/landscaping/lot lighting (estimates provided in the meeting record). Councilmembers expressed support for the improvements while flagging concerns about the uncertainty of grant funding and the need to confirm the property sale. Councilmember Beaver moved to approve, and Councilmember Miller seconded. The council approved the measure on a roll‑call vote.

Staff emphasized no work would be performed using grant funds before the grant award; if the property sale to provide match proceeds does not occur, staff said the sale process would be re‑evaluated or the council could pursue other funding options. Councilmember Woolsey and others said improvements would be beneficial to youth sports and community recreation.