Council advances Ewart splash park contract after funding debate; emergency approval fails

City staff recommended approval of a construction contract with Branco Enterprises for the long‑planned Ewart (Ewarp) Splash Park project, reporting a guaranteed maximum price of $8,935,365 that staff said was within the amended budget. The project includes spray features, a water playground, a renovated aquatic center and park upgrades, with an expected park opening next summer and an ice ribbon for the following winter.

Staff said the project is funded through parks and stormwater sales tax and supplemental use‑tax beautification dollars. Several councilmembers raised objections to using other departments’ funds to cover the project’s shortfall: Councilmember Jackson argued that parks should absorb overruns or borrow from park reserves rather than redirecting beautification or capital funds from other departments. Jackson said the practice represented poor fiscal management and preferred alternatives such as delaying the project or using an internal loan the parks department would repay.

On a motion to approve the contract on an emergency basis, the emergency threshold was not met. The roll call recorded five votes in favor; the ordinance therefore failed to pass as an emergency and will be returned for second and third readings at the next meeting. Staff said work could begin once the ordinance clears required readings and funding is finalized; Bloomberg (staff) said approval now would allow work to start and targeted the splash park to open by August 2026, with ice operations possible by the following winter.

Next steps: Council will consider the ordinance on 2nd and 3rd reading at the next meeting and must resolve the budget/funding questions before construction can proceed under the city contract.