Officials approve moving forward with park project and ask council to split splash‑pad water costs

Local meeting participants voted to move forward with a park redevelopment that includes a splash pad, shelters, shade structures and a playground, and said they will ask the city council to pick up half of the splash‑pad water bill going forward. The group also discussed a financing line referenced in the transcript as "the 150" to be spread over seven years.

The chair called for a motion after budget materials were reviewed. Trent, the project presenter, said the project estimate remains "in the 1.5 range" and that the figure has declined recently "unless quotes expire" or material and labor costs change. Trent said the scope also includes a planned wall expansion the group has budgeted for previously and that many bids are prepared and awaiting mayoral release for advertisement.

Trent said the splash pad will be larger and have more features than the existing facility and that its ongoing utility costs are not covered by the initial construction estimate. He proposed asking the city council to cover 50% of the splash‑pad water costs while the financing payment (referred to in the meeting as "the 150") would be an additional charge to cover lease/financing costs over seven years. A staff member clarified that the "150 for 7 years" is intended to pay a portion of a lease or financing agreement and that the city portion would be in addition to the amount the city already budgets for water.

Participants also discussed related site work: money has been budgeted for new pickleball courts and a parking‑lot expansion, and speaker 2 said some dirt from the parking‑lot work will be used to build up the ground for the courts. An engineer will assess drainage after those earthworks are completed. A resident who lived behind the park raised concerns about neighborhood drainage, saying, "Our yard was like a sponge. You could almost balance on it." Trent responded that planned drainage would run along the back side of the park to the ditch behind the industrial park and that "none of that water is supposed to flow on over into Kyber."

When asked about timing, Trent said he was "hoping by June 30" to finish, noting that beginning work July 1 would be problematic. The chair pointed to five‑year financial analysis shared by Sabrina and said adequate funds have been set aside; participants thanked Sabrina for the materials.

The chair then called for a motion to proceed. The motion (to move forward with the project as presented and to pursue the described financing and utility‑cost arrangement) was moved and, per the transcript, seconded by Carla. The chair called for "all in favor," heard assent and, after asking for opposition, declared the motion carried on a voice vote.

Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will seek city council approval for the proposed 50/50 water split and proceed with advertising bids once the mayoral release is given; an engineer will evaluate drainage as earthmoving work completes. The meeting did not record a roll‑call vote or numeric tally in the transcript.