The Winter Springs City Commission on Oct. 27 voted 4–1 to postpone a $100,000 expenditure from the park impact fee fund for a lacrosse/soccer rebound wall at Trotwood Park and spent substantial time reviewing other proposed 2026 capital items tied to the park impact and Arbor funds.

Commissioner Victoria Bruce moved to pause the $100,000 lacrosse wall expenditure so staff can review it next budget year; Commissioner Mark Caruso seconded the motion and the commission approved it 4–1 (Paul Diaz opposed). "I'd like to pause this expense," Bruce said when she introduced the motion.

The vote came amid staff briefings and commission questions about how restricted park impact fees are and whether the proposed projects are the best use of a fund that staff said is difficult to predict year-to-year. "The revenue side of the park impact fee…is somewhat unpredictable year over year," Brian Dunnigan, director of administrative services and operations, told the commission. Dunnigan said park impact fees are collected mostly from residential development, including multifamily projects, and are limited to capacity‑expanding capital projects, not routine maintenance or operating costs.

Why this matters

Park impact fees and the Arbor Fund are earmarked sources that cannot be used for general operations. Decisions about how to spend those funds affect which amenities the city builds or upgrades and how quickly the city can respond to storm damage, accessibility needs, and neighborhood requests.

Key facts and motions

- The commission postponed a proposed $100,000 lacrosse/soccer rebound wall at Trotwood Park to be reviewed next year. Motion by Commissioner Victoria Bruce; second by Commissioner Mark Caruso. Vote: Bruce, Baker, Resnick, Caruso — yes; Diaz — no. Outcome: approved (postponed for review).

- Staff said two park-impact projects were included in the FY 25–26 budget: the Trotwood rebound wall and ADA accessibility enhancements (new sidewalks) with a combined budgeted total of $200,000. Dunnigan confirmed the combined FY26 budgeted amount for those two items as $200,000.

- Commissioners and staff discussed athletic field lighting. The new amphitheater lights cost just over $50,000, Dunnigan said, but staff cautioned those fixtures are not suitable for athletic fields; a professional-level stadium lighting solution could run into the low millions. "You're looking in the million‑and‑a‑half range, conservatively," Dunnigan said when asked about a full stadium lighting installation, noting recent tariff and material-price increases.

Arbor Fund and street‑tree program

Commissioners also reviewed Arbor Fund proposals ranging from the city tree giveaway to large corridor landscaping and a planned tree replacement project at Tuscawilla Crossings.

- The city reduced the planned annual tree giveaway budget to $49,000 for FY26 (down from historical budgets in the low‑$80,000s), staff said.

- Staff presented a proposal for landscaping renovations along the SR‑434 corridor from SR‑417 west toward Tuscawilla Road; initial cost estimates are about $300,000. Staff said many medians and understory plantings are in poor condition, and they advised caution because FDOT may later alter the corridor. "We'd want to be very cautious in our approach…so we're not essentially throwing good money after bad," City Manager Kevin Sweet said of potential work in DOT right‑of‑way.

- For City Hall landscaping, staff estimated about $100,000 to replace older plantings and address lost trees and mature, stressed material.

- A major street‑tree project at Tuscawilla Crossings would remove and transplant live oaks that staff say are causing sidewalk and curbing issues. The project is budgeted at roughly $500,000 and planned in two phases (about $250,000 in FY26 with a second phase in FY27). Staff said survivability of transplanted trees will depend on contractor expertise and cannot be guaranteed; it will be an evaluation criterion in procurement.

Other budget notes

Manager Sweet said staff removed a requested $35,000 vehicle for building inspections from the FY26 request after internal review. Commissioners asked staff to return with year and mileage for the vehicle for reference.

Public comment and next steps

Members of the public urged caution and community engagement. Art Gallo voiced concern about perceived legislative overreach tied to a separate charter item (see related story). Resident Gina Schaefer urged attention to flooding and Wetlands Park.

Staff will return with more detailed cost breakdowns and timeline options for the proposed projects. The paused lacrosse wall will be considered again in the next budget cycle.

Ending

With the lacrosse wall postponed and larger tree and corridor projects approved for study and phased funding, the commission left staff to refine costs and procurement plans and to return with more detailed proposals for review.