Residents press city on delay to District 5 recreation center; staff point to outreach, planning and funding timing

Committee members pressed staff about why the District 5 recreation center shows budgeted funds but little spending. Committee member Fragozo said money is budgeted but not yet spent and asked whether permitting, contracting or planning obstacles are delaying the project. "So are there any permitting, contracting, or planning obstacles delaying these projects?" Fragozo asked.

Assistant Finance Director A. Pedrosa said there is not yet a fully vetted plan for District 5 and that money was set aside in the budget and could be reappropriated by council. Public Works Director David James said public outreach is under way to determine what the community wants and that construction spending will start after outreach and design are complete.

Ernesto Lizabella, interim deputy with Library and Community Services, told the committee the original budget was approved by City Council in 2022 and that the department has followed a parks and libraries master plan and public input process: "...we're moving to the process of conceptual design to then having be able to, have engineering design, which would be more build ready."

During public comment, North Village HOA President Joe Alvarado described earlier grant denial and said the project now seems smaller than originally proposed, calling it a "matchbox" and urging attention to entrance and parking locations; resident Eric Peterson and others urged careful planning to serve children and seniors in the neighborhood. Committee members requested clearer timelines and noted inflation and grant timing can change project scope and priorities.