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Council weighs DART mobility funds for downtown pavilion as Sept. spending deadline approaches
Summary
Staff briefed the council on DART grants and proposed using remaining funds for a covered downtown pavilion or flexible event space; staff said leftover DART funding must be spent by Sept. 27 and will prepare designs and community outreach if council wants to pursue the idea.
City staff updated the council on prior and new DART mobility funding and presented a concept for a covered downtown pavilion that could serve as a flexible event space for markets, concerts and recreational uses including pickleball.
Staff said the prior grant (originally described as about $5,300,000) funded Industrial Street and the Martin Drive pedestrian crossing, with about $1,100,000 spent in-house and remaining funds authorized for other uses; staff said the leftover funds must be spent by Sept. 27: “We must spend that by September of 27th,” a staff presenter said. Staff outlined two concepts — an enclosed metal structure large enough for an ice rink or a more open pavilion with restrooms, storage and electric service to support multiple uses — and said DART offered design resources and a "kit of parts" for communities.
Council members raised concerns about operational costs for an enclosed skating facility, possible noise from heavy pickleball use, and the suitability of the site given nearby apartments; several members urged more community input and professional design work before committing funds. Staff said they will pursue more detailed design work, cost estimates and community meetings and will draft the materials needed to secure DART funding by the June/July deadlines described in the briefing.
