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Council weighs use of $305,000 in park impact fees to shore up Sycamore Park project; BMX track questioned
Summary
Staff presented options for spending roughly $305,000 remaining in park development impact fees: solar pathway lighting, a passive park north of Highway 162, or a BMX/pump track. Council members favored using the funds to support the existing Sycamore Park/pool project (lighting and pathways) rather than building a BMX track.
Willows City staff asked the council for direction on how to spend roughly $305,000 in remaining park development impact fees. Staff framed the choice as using funds to help cover overages for the ongoing Sycamore Park and pool project (including solar lighting), creating a passive park on the north side of town, or building a BMX/pump track at Sycamore Park.
"If we were able to use park development impact fee funds, one of the eligible activities was solar lighting," Joe Bettencourt, a city staff presenter, said, noting the Sycamore Park project had come in over budget at a 50% plan submittal and the solar elements — roughly a $500,000 component in earlier estimates — had been a candidate for cuts.
Staff highlighted trade‑offs: a pump track could reduce off‑street parking, pose safety and maintenance issues, and possibly duplicate benefits of the existing skate park; a passive park would be low‑maintenance and could address a lack of public parkland north of Highway 162.
Council members expressed preference for using the impact fees to support the Sycamore Park project and other improvements to the city's two major parks rather than building a BMX track. Vice Mayor Richard Thomas urged focusing on heavily used facilities and said he preferred using the $37,730 already committed to automated softball field lighting and applying remaining funds where they would be most utilized. A council member added: "I'd rather see this $305,000 put to use in those parks for something that's going to be utilized rather than... a wish list." (paraphrase of council remarks in meeting record.)
Staff said the 2008 nexus study that established the eligible projects still constrains how those fee dollars may be used; to change eligible categories would require a new nexus study or other legal steps. Bettencourt said updating cost estimates and consulting the city engineer would require staff/consultant time and that staff would return with updated pricing if the council wanted to pursue a particular option.
No final vote was taken; staff said they will return with refined cost estimates and a recommendation once the next Sycamore Park 75% submittal clarifies remaining shortfalls.
