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Council reviews event-center predesign and Green Valley Parkway concept; staff seeks direction to resume work
Summary
Town staff told the council that finishing predesign work for an event center and the Green Valley Parkway extension would allow a Forest Service special-use application, provide accurate infrastructure sizing, and help the town attract partners or grants.
Council heard an update on predesign work for a proposed Payson event center and the related Green Valley Parkway extension across Forest Service land. Staff said predesign work (site survey, initial stakeholder interviews and coordination with utilities) was underway but paused after an earlier council decision. The town has acquired three parcels (roughly 20 acres) next to the existing rodeo grounds and identified up to about 92 acres of adjacent Forest Service land that could be part of a larger complex under a Forest Service special-use permit.
Why it matters: staff said completing predesign will produce a concept-level site plan that the town can use to (1) support a Forest Service special-use-permit application for the forest land, (2) size utility and roadway infrastructure correctly, (3) attract private partners/operators and grant funding, and (4) support economic-development outreach. Staff reported $479,000 budgeted in the current fiscal year to advance predesign and said that finishing predesign would let the town apply for federal or other grants and better define project phasing.
Council questions and concerns: members discussed timing, whether to lift the administrative suspension of predesign, and the relationship between the event center, Green Valley Parkway and nearby tribal and private development. Several council members asked for a detailed CIP-level funding breakdown; one councilor said the Forest Service land would be a major opportunity and urged staff to press forward, while others asked staff to bring the detailed funding scenarios to the March CIP packet before committing to resume work.
Next steps: staff proposed completing programming analysis, a market study, conceptual design and an operations/business plan during the predesign so council can consider a fully scoped concept and grant/partnering options. Staff said the Forest Service permit process can take about two years and advised moving forward with predesign if council wants to make the site shovel-ready for future funding opportunities.
