Ross council debates full restoration of Ross Common as CIP funds and civic-center trade-offs loom

Ross Town Council members spent the bulk of their March 12 meeting discussing whether to move forward with a full restoration of Ross Common, a small but heavily used public field at the civic center, and how that work would fit into the town's five-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Public Works Director Rich Siminich outlined a range of options, telling council members that the most extensive choice '2would be a complete replacement of the turf, subbase and irrigation with a full closure of 12 to 18 months'2 and that "That's estimated to be about $1,000,000." He also described a lower-cost interim plan to replace roughly 17,000 square feet of distressed turf, estimated at about $70,000 to $80,000 with roughly $10,000 in additional annual maintenance.

The discussion centered on money and timing: the town has saved roughly $12 million toward a civic-center project but Siminich warned that combined needs for a paramedic facility, police facility and other infrastructure leave a funding gap. "It comes down to a choice between the paramedic facility or the police facility," he said, noting about $13 million would be required to complete both projects as currently scoped.

Community speakers urged prompt action. Patrick Quigney, a Ross resident and member of the Ross Valley Little League board, said the common "is the lifeblood of Ross," offered the league's fundraising help and pointed to a nearby reference project that, he said, completed a larger restoration at substantially lower cost. Tony Susano, a Little League commissioner, described the field's poor playability for youth baseball and urged the council to act.

Several council members said they favored a full restoration if funds and private donations allow. Council member Kercher said she was sympathetic to beginning a full rebuild rather than repeated smaller patches; another member emphasized that seeking grants remains worthwhile but uncertain. Town Manager Johnson reminded the council that the budget is a working document and can be updated after the April budget workshop.

Council members also repeatedly said they want the citizen advisory committee on the civic center and firehouse to weigh in; multiple members asked staff to return with the committee's recommendation in April or May if possible to inform the final budget decision. During that exchange the manager summarized staff's sense of council direction: to continue exploring grant opportunities but to plan for restoration options in the CIP while awaiting the advisory committee's report.

The council made no formal appropriation on March 12; instead members gave staff guidance to pursue options and return with more detailed scope, cost estimates and the advisory committee's recommendations for inclusion in the upcoming budget process.