Veterans Park ad hoc committee reviews 2024 accomplishments; Circle of Honor design is about $400,000 over budget

The Veterans Park Ad Hoc Committee met Dec. 18 at City Hall to review its 2024 annual report draft, confirm that a contractor has been selected and hear that the Circle of Honor design exceeds the committee’s budget by about $400,000, a shortfall that must be resolved before construction can start.

Mr. Nelson, who presented the report to the committee, told members the committee met its key goals for 2024: the design plans were approved, a contractor was chosen and a project estimate was completed. "We can ID that as well and call that out in the annual report," he said, and offered to return a draft for the committee’s review at the next meeting.

The committee discussed funding and timing. Mr. Nelson said the city cannot set a public rollout or mobilization timeline until a budget amendment is approved and a notice to proceed is issued to the contractor. He told the group the design’s guaranteed maximum price was higher than budgeted and that a budget amendment has been submitted to finance to fund the finalized design. The committee was told the item could go to the commission for approval in January, pending finance’s review.

A committee member noted the shortfall: "You're over budget by about 400,000," a remark recorded during the meeting. Committee members asked other departments not to reallocate the project funds and said they would monitor the budget process closely.

The meeting also covered environmental and design details. Mr. Nelson reported that "the FWC permit was issued on 10/7 for the gopher tortoises" and said the approved landscape plan includes native plantings; he offered to verify and distribute the design documents to committee members.

Outreach and fundraising options were discussed as ways to reduce the net cost to the city. The committee reviewed a tribute program and sponsorship ideas — benches, flagpoles and other fixtures that could be paid for or partially funded by donors on a rotating sponsorship schedule to limit long-term budget impact.

Procedurally, the committee approved the Nov. 20, 2024 meeting minutes on a motion from Kevin Burrows and a second from Bob Bailey. No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript; the motion was carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the committee will finalize the 2024 annual report at a future meeting, monitor the finance process on the budget amendment and, if the amendment is approved, support presentation of the funding request at the commission meeting (committee members were asked to attend when the item is scheduled).