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Council discusses building recreation area at Chief Toca Reservoir; $6M federal match would require local funding
Summary
The council discussed a Bureau of Reclamation recreation grant that would fund up to 25% of recreation infrastructure at Chief Toca Reservoir; staff recommended building a small, phased recreation area and urged immediate dike design while the dam contractor is onsite.
Toquerville officials discussed options May 20 for a recreation area at the new Chief Toca Reservoir tied to a Bureau of Reclamation grant that covers up to 25% of eligible recreation costs.
The grant can cover roughly $6 million (about 25% on a $24 million estimate shown in early planning), but the city would need to find the remaining 75% of project costs, and construction costs have increased since the original estimates. Ben, the city manager, told the council that if Toquerville wants a year-round recreation pond and permanent amenities, a dike and associated work should be designed and built while the reservoir contractor is onsite to avoid much higher retrofit costs later.
“I just have no idea how we’re going to find extra money right now,” Ben said, noting several funding approaches: phased construction using impact fees, developer-fronted impact-fee credits, county contributions (wrap-tax dollars), or borrowing. Councilmembers discussed modeling the project on Ivan’s Fire Lake, where phased development over several years allowed incremental improvements tied to user amenities.
Council consensus: staff should pursue design work for a protective dike and get a scope and memorandum of understanding to allow the council to consider funding options. County staff had indicated potential willingness to contribute wrap-tax funds for recreation; staff will prepare an MOU and scope of work and route it to the city attorney for review.
No binding appropriation or final plan was approved tonight; the council asked staff to return with cost estimates and an MOU for potential partner funding.
