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Placerville commissioners weigh hiring consultant for Lions Park master plan as funding questions persist
Summary
City staff and a consultant proposed a targeted master plan for Lions Park, including an irrigation audit and public outreach. Commissioners debated spending roughly $24,000 from an existing $185,000 allocation and suggested in-house or volunteer alternatives. No formal contract was approved at the meeting.
Director Nishihara introduced a proposed master planning process for Lions Park and invited Ben of Calendar & Associates to present a streamlined scope of work that would combine site analysis, targeted public outreach and a draft master plan with cost estimates. “We tried to streamline and target the meetings,” Ben said, describing a process of base-plan mapping, an online survey, a public workshop and final plans with estimates meant to inform future capital budgeting.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said a formal plan would give the city concrete cost estimates and priorities rather than piecemeal improvements. At the same time, several commissioners questioned whether spending city funds on a consultant is the right near-term use of limited local money.
Details of the proposal and debate
Ben told the commission the firm’s proposal would use aerial photography and existing data, perform a site walk, identify opportunities and constraints, prepare a draft plan informed by an online survey and a public workshop, then produce final plans and cost estimates. He said similar work for other municipalities produced hundreds of survey responses and clearer project scopes.
Commissioners pressed on cost and timing. One commissioner asked whether the $24,000 figure listed in the consultant’s packet was for work already done; Ben replied, “This is the proposed — this is our proposal to do everything I just presented.” Commissioners also noted widely varying prior estimates — council and staff had earlier discussed planning costs “anywhere between $25,000 to $50,000.”
Funding context
Dennis (Community Services staff) told the commission that the city set aside about $185,000 from a community cannabis fund for park renovations, including irrigation and drainage work, and that those monies were the likely source for the master plan. “That funding that’s tied to that CIP would be tied specifically to this master plan,” Dennis said. He added that the $24,000 proposal would not exhaust the $185,000 allocation.
Positions and alternatives
Several commissioners urged caution. Commissioner Pitchley said the money should go to tangible improvements — “I think this is money that we don't need to be spending” — and suggested the commission and staff could run in-house surveys, volunteer-led outreach or recruit commissioners to host public meetings instead of hiring a consultant. Other commissioners agreed that a pared-back approach or phasing would be preferable while funds remain limited.
Supporters of hiring a consultant said staff capacity is limited and a consultant could produce the technical assessments and cost estimates the city lacks. Ben noted that some baseline costs — aerial mapping, survey administration — have risen, and that the proposal can be scaled. “We can right-size it to what you folks want,” he said.
Discussion outcome and next steps
No contract award or formal vote to hire Calendar & Associates occurred at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return with more specifics: a clear timeline, a narrowed scope and options that would use fewer consultant hours or combine consultant work with volunteer efforts. Director Nishihara said staff would bring a refined recommendation back to the commission in a future meeting.
Public comment and neighborhood concerns
During public comment several residents and community members spoke about Lions Park's current maintenance needs and the importance of prioritizing field repairs and irrigation. Commissioners and staff repeatedly emphasized the need to set realistic expectations for the public that a master plan produces a wish list and cost estimates but does not guarantee immediate construction.
Ending
The discussion ended with staff agreeing to return with a more detailed, scaled set of options and a proposed timeline so the commission can decide whether to proceed with outside consulting help, pursue a volunteer-driven outreach approach, or combine both methods.
