Erie council directs staff to prepare design for Compass and Morgan Hill parks; approves Compass at 10 acres, Morgan Hill at 8

Erie — The Erie Town Council voted June 3 to direct town staff to move forward with design work and pre‑construction planning for two long‑promised neighborhood parks, instructing that Compass Park be developed at 10 acres and that Morgan Hill Park be advanced on a reduced baseline of 8 acres while staff returns with any recommended adjustments.

The council’s motion, made by Mayor Moore, asked staff to pursue a range of funding options and due diligence: review Metro District service plans for additional bonding capacity, evaluate Certificates of Participation (COPs) for short‑term financing, explore extending or replacing existing bonds, pursue grant opportunities (including GOCO), and identify CIP rollover or reallocated FTE budgets that could free near‑term funds.

Why it matters: Compass and Morgan Hill were dedicated as park sites by developers years ago but have not been fully built. Residents in those neighborhoods have repeatedly pressed the town for parks and for clarity on when construction would start. Council members framed the vote as a way to give staff a clear path into the 2026 budget process while preserving flexibility on park footprints and amenities.

Staff overview and costs: Luke Bollinger, Erie’s director of parks and recreation, reminded council that the town previously negotiated fee‑in‑lieu payments to seed park construction. “We negotiated that $770,000 in 2020 to to give us that seed funding,” he told the council. Bollinger summarized the conceptual plans: Compass was proposed with an inclusive playground, sport courts and an artificial turf field and a water‑play element, while Morgan Hill’s plan included real grass baseball fields and other amenities because that site has access to non‑potable water.

On phasing and price, Bollinger said a phased approach can deliver community benefits sooner but adds inflation and remobilization costs. He offered example figures for illustration: “If we did a phased approach starting in 2026, you’re finishing off the design of Compass Park at a cost of roughly $300,000 and then you’re moving right into construction with $2,000,000,” he said, adding that Morgan Hill’s full build estimates on the conceptual layouts had been shown near a $5.1 million figure.

Funding debate: Councilors pressed staff on multiple options — reprioritizing projects, using CIP rollover funds, increasing impact fees (an impact‑fee study is already planned to meet statutory requirements), placing a sales‑tax or bond measure before voters, or using COPs that do not require voter approval. Staff cautioned that voter measures take time to produce revenue and that grants are never guaranteed but can materially accelerate scope.

Motion and outcome: Mayor Moore made the formal motion directing staff to proceed with simultaneous design for both parks, with Compass at 10 acres and Morgan Hill set at a working baseline of 8 acres pending staff follow‑up. The motion also requested due diligence on Metro District funding, potential COP financing or bond strategies, GOCO and other grant opportunities, and use of available CIP rollover or reallocated FTE budgets. The motion received a second and passed on a voice vote; the transcript records the chair calling for “All in favor, say aye,” followed by aye responses and no recorded opposition.

Next steps: Staff will return to council with refined cost estimates and recommended phasing tied to available funding sources; consultants will be asked to translate the conceptual plans into budgeted design documents if the 2026 budget provides direction. The council asked staff to prioritize clear public messaging that these parks are part of Erie’s overall park system and to continue outreach in affected neighborhoods.

What to watch: Look for staff reporting to appear as the 2026 budget is developed; the council requested analysis on Metro District service plans, the pending impact‑fee study, CIP rollover projections, and grant‑seeking prospects. If a voter measure is considered, staff said that ballot language and timing would need to be prepared well in advance (August deadlines were noted).