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Council prioritizes pickleball courts as city plans use of park impact fees, aims for grant applications
Summary
Councilors signaled support to use expiring park impact fees for pickleball courts and to pursue Land and Water Conservation Fund and related grants; staff was directed to obtain final bids and place the project on the next council agenda for approval.
Councilors said at the Nov. 18 work session they want to prioritize building pickleball courts so park impact fees do not have to be returned once six years have passed. Staff reminded the council that impact fees must be used within six years of collection or returned to payors, creating urgency on spending plans.
Staff outlined grant opportunities — including the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the Utah Outdoor Recreation Fund, CIB, USDA programs and state SRF options — and noted application deadlines and SCORP requirements. The Utah Outdoor Recreation Fund cycle and a related application window were discussed as time‑sensitive; staff indicated assistance would be available for the application. Council members discussed the eligible project types under these grant programs (sports courts, trails, picnic areas, playgrounds) and SCORP compliance requirements.
On scope and procurement, councilors reviewed surface options for the courts: a tile system with longer life and higher up‑front cost (quotes in the upper $70,000s) versus reinforced concrete with an acrylic surface that requires repainting every three to five years. Members said tiles reduce recurring maintenance and a donated contribution of steel was mentioned as a possible in‑kind source. Council consensus favored proceeding with pickleball courts and directed staff to secure final bids (three bids recommended) and include a bid and dollar amount on the next formal meeting agenda for approval.
Staff also discussed matching and other funding sources (CIB and community recreation grants), noting limited CIB capacity at present. Council asked for final cost information to bring the project to a vote so impact fees can be spent before they lapse.
