Council reviews Veterans Memorial and Nimitz Park master plans and authorizes phase‑1 design work within available CIP funding

Assistant Public Works Director Margarita Hernandez and consultant Kimberly Horn presented conceptual master plans for Veterans Memorial Park and Nimitz Park and recommended the council authorize phase‑1 design and construction‑plan development. Hernandez said the request is "not to exceed available funding of $22,130,000" for the broader program and described a phased approach that prioritizes ADA accessibility, parking and restroom improvements in phase 1 and landscaping, memorial relocation and amenities in later phases.

Hernandez summarized funding to date and proposed that phase 1 for Veterans Park focus on parking, bathrooms and accessible sidewalks; she identified a current available allocation of approximately $1.5 million for those initial efforts and told council that detailed construction costs will be established during the design phase. For Nimitz Park, staff presented a probable phase‑1 construction estimate of roughly $2,526,000 (conceptual estimate) and recommended base‑bid/ad‑alternate bidding to match available funding and maximize contractor efficiency.

Councilmembers pressed staff on whether phasing would leave the Veterans Memorial itself unrepaired in early work and discussed using master plans to attract grants or strategic partners to accelerate memorial work. Councilwoman Roberts said Veterans Park has been a long‑standing priority and asked whether the council could accelerate the overall project rather than only funding a base phase; staff responded that additional funding could be prioritized in the five‑year CIP or pursued via grants and partnerships.

A motion to approve the master plans and proceed with phase‑1 design was put forward during the meeting; council discussion emphasized the master plan's role in positioning the city for grants and partnerships.