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University City approves $575,000 park grant for Heman Park amid floodplain concerns
Summary
The City Council voted to accept a $575,000 municipal park grant for Heman Park improvements with a local match up to $72,000, while members and staff debated that FEMA's 2015 floodplain maps place planned facilities on the park's north side in a floodway and urged coordination with the county and FEMA before construction.
University City's City Council on Nov. 24 approved a $575,000 municipal park grant for improvements to Heman Park's athletic facilities, with a required local match not to exceed $72,000.
Deputy City Manager Sharp told the council the 2014 Heman Park master plan placed proposed basketball courts, a mini pitch and pickleball courts on the park's north side, but FEMA's updated 2015 floodplain maps place the north side in a floodway; staff said the mini pitch area behind Jack Buck Field, the basketball courts by Centennial Commons and the pickleball courts near the existing tennis courts fall within FEMA-designated flood areas. "A lot of that area is in a flood plane based on FEMA's updated map," Sharp said, explaining the location choices included in the council packet and that certain hard-surface improvements risk ineligibility if placed in the floodway.
Council Member Smotherson urged the body to recognize that the 2014 master plan no longer aligns with current FEMA maps: "I think that the 2014 master plan is void and irrelevant," Smotherson said, adding that the parks commission and staff need to update the plan. Deputy City Manager Sharp and other staff responded that being in a floodplain does not automatically prohibit all activities, but it constrains which facilities can be located there and that staff will confirm allowable uses with FEMA and the county before construction begins.
Council members said they did not want to jeopardize the awarded grant but pressed staff to verify whether the city could seek any flexibility from county or federal authorities on siting. Council Member McMahon noted the parks commission and staff had worked through multiple meetings to identify suitable locations and that the current proposal reflected those deliberations.
A motion to approve acceptance of the municipal park grant and proceed with the project as described (with staff to coordinate further with FEMA and the county on siting) was made by Council Member Smotherson and seconded by Council Member Clay; the motion passed by voice vote.
The council asked staff to confirm allowable site activities with FEMA and the county and to report back, and to coordinate with the parks commission on any necessary amendments to the master plan.
Ending: The grant was approved and the council instructed staff to verify floodplain constraints and coordinate with outside agencies before executing construction contracts; staff will report back to council with clarifications and any needed plan changes.
