Committee recommends nearly $810,000 in RAP-tax allocations for parks projects

A city committee recommended that the city council approve $809,908 in RAP-tax allocations for multiple parks and recreation projects, including a replacement play structure at the aquatic center, sound panels at the pool, electrical upgrades at the arena and funding for the Rotary Club’s All Abilities Playground, after presentations from Leisure Services staff and community partners.

The motion was introduced by Chad (chair) as a package: “My motion is to give leisure services the 579,908 and the remaining 230,000 to Rotary,” and was seconded by Mark. Committee members discussed funding sources, preservation-fund balances and the need for vendor quotes. The motion was amended on the floor to fully fund Rotary at $250,000 and to earmark $11,672.50 of that for memorial signage; the amended recommendation also included a direction that staff provide any missing quotes and a clearer cost breakdown to the council.

Staff and presenters outlined the main allocations the recommendation covers. Kenny Nelson with Leisure Services said past RAP-tax allocations have supported amenities such as a climbing wall, zip line and playground improvements and presented new requests for maintenance and capital replacements. Marci Brill of the Aquatic Center said the pool’s 15-year play structure has rusted through and provided a vendor figure of $395,618 and shipping of about $9,600 for removal and replacement; she told the committee a vendor lead time would be roughly six months after a deposit and that installation was likely in a slower operational window (January) to minimize downtime.

Leisure Services also requested funds for around 170 acoustic panels to reduce noise during swim meets; staff estimated a materials budget up to $60,000 depending on quantity and freight, with city staff performing installation. The Cross Hollow Trail resurfacing was presented by Anthony Pearson of the Parks Department: he reported an $84,534 contractor quote, a 60% grant award from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation of $50,700, and asked the committee for $34,000 to finish the project.

Arena staff described the need to upgrade the new addition’s electrical panel and to procure four movable "spider" power boxes for vendor use; the electrical work was identified in the packet at $45,917, and staff said they will circulate the underlying invoice to the committee before council. Rotary Club representatives Sue Longson and Neil Smith requested local funding for phase two of an All Abilities Playground and reported preliminary approval for a $200,000 National Park Service / Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administered through the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation; they said if that federal grant is finalized the city’s local need would be reduced.

City attorney Randall McCune advised the committee on RAP-tax ordinance requirements for applications, recommending that staff provide detailed bids and line-item backing for any recommended amounts before the council acts. The committee voted by voice to forward the amended recommendation to the council; no opposing votes were recorded in the transcript (no roll-call tally of individual votes was captured). The chair will present the recommendation to the city council in July, and staff said they will circulate the revised figures and supporting quotes to committee members beforehand.

Next steps: staff will collect and circulate vendor quotes and the chair or another designated representative will present the committee’s recommendation to the city council in July. If the Rotary federal grant is finalized before the council acts, the committee’s contingency language indicated the city contribution could be reduced.