Council adopts parks operating agreement, regional hazard plan, and Avalon loan and grant actions

Evanston City Council adopted four resolutions on related administrative and development matters, approving an operating agreement with the parks and recreation district, adopting a regional hazard mitigation plan, and authorizing loan and grant actions tied to the Avalon development project.

Resolution 22-39 authorizes the city to enter an operating agreement with the parks and recreation district for the operation, management and regulation of recreation within the city. The measure was introduced and adopted as moved and seconded by council members.

On Resolution 22-40, the council adopted the 2022 Wyoming Region 4 hazard mitigation plan. City staff explained the plan identifies county and city risks — including earthquakes, drought, dam-related flooding and hazardous-materials incidents — and noted annual adoption is required to preserve eligibility for Homeland Security grant funding. “We we have to do this each year, to be eligible for Homeland Security grants,” a city official said during the discussion.

The council also approved Resolution 22-41, authorizing execution of a loan agreement with the Wyoming Business Council Investment Division to obtain funds for the Avalon construction and development project. Staff described the agreement as setting the terms, responsibilities and loan term so the city may use the funds for the project.

Relatedly, Resolution 22-42 ratified Amendment 1 to the grant agreement with the Wyoming Business Council for a business-ready grant supporting construction of a light-manufacturing facility for Avalon. Staff said the amendment extends the project completion date by one year, from the end of the current month to June 30, 2023, to align with construction progress.

All four resolutions were moved, seconded and approved by the council with no recorded opposition in the transcript. The actions were handled in sequence during the new-business portion of the meeting.