Council backs narrower parks impact-fee study, asks members to submit scope items

Mount Pleasant councilors gave staff direction to narrow the scope of a proposed parks and recreation impact-fee study and to return with firm cost estimates before deciding whether to proceed.

A council member explained the rationale: the city lacks funding to complete all master-plan items and growth has increased demand on parks. "My plea to you is to strongly consider this as an opportunity," the council member said, urging the council to capture growth-related revenues rather than spreading costs across existing residents.

Members discussed prior cost estimates for an impact-fee study (comments in the meeting placed previous quotes between about $39,000 and as much as $50,000–$60,000 for a broader scope). Several councilors supported a narrowed study focused on ‘low-hanging fruit’ (restroom, playground, soccer field) tied to the adopted park master plan rather than an expansive citywide rec center analysis.

The council directed each member to submit comments on what should appear in the study scope within two weeks; staff will consolidate those scope requests and solicit cost proposals from engineering firms, then return to council with estimated study prices and a recommended scope. Councilors also discussed statutory requirements for impact-fee facility plans (noting that cities under certain annual thresholds may use an informal plan) and the requirement that collected fees be spent or encumbered within six years of collection.

The motion to proceed with narrowing the scope and soliciting costs carried by consensus; no formal fee was set at this meeting.