Council approves downtown community space GMP, Stewart Park contracts and Elkton Trail rezoning

The Tyler City Council approved a series of measures in its regular meeting, including a construction manager‑at‑risk guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the Downtown Tyler Community Space, contracts to build Stewart Park amenities, and a rezoning request along Elkton Trail to allow office and office‑warehouse development.

Cameron Williams, director of Engineering Services, told the council the recommended GMP from the construction manager‑at‑risk for the Downtown Tyler Community Space project is $4,976,709. The project scope includes a building with restrooms and storage, inclined seating and turf slope, site work and some parking improvements; construction is planned to begin in June with a target completion in December. Williams said earlier agenda postings had a display/entry error but confirmed the GMP presented to the council was correct.

“The guaranteed maximum price of $4,976,709 is what is recommended for approval today,” Williams said.

Council approved the contract revision by voice vote after a motion recorded in the transcript (mover: Haney; second: Curtis). The mayor also confirmed that a proposed statue of the local figure known as “Shorty the squirrel” will be privately funded, not paid for with taxpayer funds.

On land use, Planning Director Kyle Kingman presented a rezoning application for an undeveloped property along Elkton Trail, asking to change portions from commercial (C1/C2) to residential and planned commercial district/zoning needed to allow a south‑side office park and north‑side office‑warehouse development. Kingman emphasized code requirements for tree preservation and lighting controls adjacent to residential properties and said the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval. Amy Svenson, a nearby resident, said she initially opposed the rezoning but supported the proposal after the applicant committed to preserving trees and limiting light impacts. The council approved the rezoning (motion by Hawkins, seconded by Curtis) by voice vote.

Council also moved forward on Stewart Park, a new park donated by the Stewart family: Leon Robinette, Parks and Recreation director, described phase work (site preparation, playground, pavilion, picnic furniture and restrooms) and recommended two contracts. The council authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Craftsman Commercial Playgrounds & Waterparks for playground equipment in the amount of $220,997.19 and a contract with CXT for restroom installation in the amount of $113,379.58, funded from landfill tipping‑fee capital improvement funds (the city’s Keep Tyler Beautiful tipping‑fee account). Robinette explained that tipping fees are charged at the landfill and that the revenue is directed to parks capital improvements.

“...this account is actually being funded by non‑citizens. And so what you'll see is that this account is actually being funded by non citizens,” Robinette said, explaining the funding source.

All Stewart Park contract motions recorded in the transcript carried by voice vote.

The council also approved three appointments to the Disabilities Issues Review Board as presented (motion by Win, second by Nicholas), and passed the consent agenda; the transcript records voice votes and 'motion carries' for these items but does not include roll‑call tallies.

The City Manager reported on other items including strong March transit ridership (Micro Transit completed 13,940 trips in March, up 6.6% from February), the Tyler Film Festival 48‑Hour Film Challenge and a recent city cleanup event.

Next procedural steps: the Downtown Community Space construction is scheduled to start in June; Stewart Park contract work will proceed per vendor schedules; the rezoning will be implemented per standard post‑approval permitting and site‑plan requirements.