Committee weighs using restricted Parkland Acquisition Fund to reimburse Brickyard purchase

The Wadsworth Public Ways Committee on Feb. 9 heard administration proposals to make more flexible use of the Parkland Acquisition Fund (Fund 456), which Director of Public Service Matt Hiscock said currently holds just under one-half million dollars but is no longer being funded under the current impact-fee model.

"The Parkland Acquisition Fund was set up by ordinance some time ago," Hiscock told the committee. He said the fund was established to accept developer contributions dedicated to acquiring new park land, but that the recent acquisition model shifted and the fund now sits unused.

Hiscock sketched one potential path: reimburse the General Fund for a portion of the Brickyard property purchase (the Brickyard was acquired recently for about $1,900,000) using Fund 456 dollars, then use the now-unrestricted General Fund dollars for park projects such as East Park renovations or other park-related capital. He cautioned that legal and accounting constraints tied to the original ordinance could restrict how the money is used and that staff is researching the appropriate steps before bringing a formal recommendation to Council.

Council members expressed general interest in finding productive uses for the money but raised questions about the legality and the process for abolishing or changing the fund’s restrictions. Hiscock said the topic will return to the Committee with further legal analysis and a recommended approach to any reimbursement or reallocation.

Next steps: staff will study the legal/accounting pathway and report back at a future meeting so the Committee can consider a legislative recommendation to Council.