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El Mirage applies for roughly $300,000 Tohono O'odham revenue-sharing grant for park shade and cameras
Summary
The council approved submitting an application and accepting an award if granted from the Tohono O'odham Nation's 2025 revenue-sharing program for about $300,000 to add shade structures at four pocket parks and install park security cameras and lighting; staff said no cash match is required and that the city has not yet been awarded the funds.
The El Mirage Common Council voted June 3 to authorize submission of an application and to accept an award, if made, from the Tohono O'odham Nation 2025 revenue-sharing program in an amount of approximately $300,000. Council approval allows staff to finalize the application and, if the city is awarded funds, make the necessary budget transfers.
Councilmember Aldridge, who requested the item be pulled from consent for clarification, asked which parks would receive work and what matching funds were required. City staff (Sean, parks/engineering liaison) said the project packages two capital items in the FY26 capital plan: shade structures at four pocket-park playgrounds (Dahlia Park, Dreyfus Park, Buena Bitta Park and Brown Family Park) and park security cameras and lighting improvements at the same locations. Staff said the city proposes only in-kind matching (project management from Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Development Services) and has not committed cash from the capital budget; the capital items remain subject to future council approval.
On camera monitoring, staff said the planned cameras would not be continuously monitored; the system uses a Meraki platform with in-house IT oversight and roughly 10 days of stored footage that staff and police can review after incidents. Staff added that the police department would have access to the footage.
Councilmember Dorothy emphasized the city had not yet received the grant and warned residents that the project was not guaranteed; council members agreed they supported pursuing grants that reduce taxpayer expense. Vice Mayor Parsons moved to approve application submittal and conditional acceptance if awarded; Councilmember Dorsey seconded and the motion passed on an affirmative voice vote.
Why it matters: If awarded, the grant would fund shade structures and security upgrades at four neighborhood parks that staff identified as lacking shade and park lighting/cameras. Because the award is not guaranteed, staff said any cash expenditures would come later and would require separate council approvals.
(Reported from the June 3, 2025 El Mirage Common Council meeting.)
