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Aztec workshop narrows BMX-site options amid MOU, water and insurance concerns
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Summary
City officials and school representatives discussed two candidate sites for a proposed BMX track, the 2009 MOU governing Tiger Sports Complex, donated fill dirt for the project and trade-offs including parking, liability and water use; staff were directed to evaluate costs and feasibility.
Andrew, who led the workshop update, told the Aztec City Council workshop on March 10 that the BMX board has submitted a draft ground‑use agreement and that “the county has donated 3,000 yards of dirt” for a proposed BMX track.
The workshop focused on where to put the track and how that choice would affect existing youth baseball and softball leagues. Andrew said local rec leagues are “turning people away” because they lack fields, and he contrasted the crowded Hartman Park (about 6.4 acres with multiple ball fields) with the larger Tiger Sports Complex (roughly 85 acres) as a potential site for expanded play.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the BMX proposal could bring revenue and recreation options but must be balanced against existing users, water shortages and the school district’s control of Tiger Complex property. Andrew and several commissioners stressed that construction of new fields has been the school district’s responsibility under a 2009 memorandum of understanding (MOU), and that any change would require negotiation and likely an amended agreement.
School officials raised insurance and budget constraints. Evelyn, a school district official who spoke at the workshop, said opening school property to outside leagues raises the district’s insurance exposure and that added coverage and budget approvals would be required. “I don’t have the budget for that,” she said, noting the district’s premiums have risen.
Cost and infrastructure questions also guided discussion. A rec‑league coach quoted in the workshop estimated about $65,000 to prepare a baseball field to regulation standards; commissioners noted some parcels near Tiger Complex already have stubbed water lines and valve boxes that could reduce build costs for a practice field. Participants also discussed turf versus grass as a multi‑year strategy to reduce irrigation demand amid drought conditions, while others warned that artificial turf can carry significant maintenance costs.
Site trade‑offs were central. Commissioners and staff weighed two practical options: convert a currently used softball field at Riverside (which would preserve parking but remove an existing playable grass field) or use a nearby dirt parking lot that would require rerouting event parking but avoid removing a prepared field. Concerns included grant conditions tied to existing green spaces, available parking for large events, the footprint of the donated fill dirt, and existing utilities such as a nearby six‑inch water line.
Staff direction: Commissioners asked staff — specifically Ed and Tristan — to analyze both candidate sites for the BMX track (cost to grade and prepare, water and electric access, parking impacts, insurance implications and timeline) and to return recommendations to the council. No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the workshop.
What remains unresolved: Any use of Tiger Sports Complex or school property by outside leagues would require renegotiation of the 2009 MOU, agreement on indemnification and proof of insurance from user groups, and decisions about long‑term maintenance funding. Commissioners also left open whether the BMX track should replace an existing softball field or be located in the dirt lot, asking staff to assess trade‑offs before the next decision point.
The workshop recessed and the council meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
