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Parks bond update: Prop C about 84% committed, aquatics nearly finished, staff flags Zilker delays
Summary
City staff told the Bond Oversight Commission that the $149 million Prop C parks bond is roughly 84% committed with $23.8 million remaining; aquatics work is nearly complete and construction on the delayed Zilker maintenance barn has resumed after contractor and permitting setbacks.
Rachel Morris, the Capital Improvement Program Manager, told the Bond Oversight Commission that Proposition C — the $149 million parks and recreation bond from 2018 — is roughly six and a half years into an eight-year delivery window and that the program has funded about 130 projects and 44 parkland acquisitions. Morris said the program has 100 percent appropriated, with $113.4 million spent and an additional $11.7 million encumbered, leaving $23.8 million in balance and about $10.1 million intentionally unassigned as contingency for ongoing projects.
Morris said the aquatics program is nearly finished: two pools remain in construction — the Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest pool replacement and Montopolis — and the department secured a $3,125,000 ORLAP grant for Montopolis. “You’ll see that we have been steadily spending down our bond funds,” Morris said during the presentation.
On building renovations, Morris identified projects in design and construction, including the Zilker maintenance barn replacement. She outlined delays at Zilker, attributing them to a contractor bankruptcy, a second contractor’s bonding difficulties and expired permits; staff told the commission that construction is now underway again.
Staff reported the parkland improvements program includes large projects such as John Trevino Jr. Metro Park and Walter E. Long Metro Park that together account for about 32 percent of that program’s work, and that external grants (including Texas Parks and Wildlife and ORLAP awards) have increased available funding. Morris said roughly 89 percent of the $45 million appropriated for land acquisition is currently committed; staff reported approximately 100 new acres acquired and about 30 new or expanded parks added since the bond passed.
Commissioners pressed staff on how bond spending maps to the city’s CIP and annual reports. Morris said the spending plan was included in the 2019 budget and that annual reports provide breakdowns; she acknowledged the data can be hard to reconcile in the CIP and said staff revisits spending plans each year and can provide year-end comparisons on request.
The presentation closed with a list of near-term items to watch: the Craigfields multipurpose field artificial turf conversion, the Givens Recreation Center renovation, the two pools under construction and planned starts for Walter E. Long and Trevino in 2026. Morris cautioned that land acquisition is unpredictable and that staff keep contingency funds to accommodate emergent needs.
The commission did not take any formal action on Prop C at the meeting; the update was presented for oversight and information.
