Title
Request for the City Commission to Allocate Funds from the Wild Spaces & Public Places Unappropriated Fund Balance for Small Projects (B)
Explanation
The Voter Referendum on the Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) passed on November 8, 2016 and the collection of the ½ cent sales tax began on January 1, 2017. The City began to receive revenues in late March 2017, approximately $484,000 per month, or $5,808,000 per year.
At the General Policy Committee meeting on April 12, 2018, the Committee heard a presentation on the proposed projects for fiscal year 2018 through 2020, as outlined in the WSPP Projected 2018-2020 Expense List. Since then the City Commission and General Policy Committee have heard presentations by WSPP staff every few months with project updates. Staff introduced this list of small projects at the August 22, 2019 General Policy Committee meeting.
The WSPP Program has been successful at completing many small projects since the sales tax began, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Some of the more significant small projects that were completed, or are underway, utilizing the WSPP small project account include the boardwalk replacement at Duval Park, the installation of security cameras at the clubhouse at Ironwood Golf Course, sunscreen dispensers at over 10 city parks, construction of the SW 40th Blvd Trail, and improvements at Barbara Higgins Park. The small project/project contingency account has also assisted with funding of construction of Reserve Park, improvements at Northside Park, and improvements at Kiwanis Girl Scout Park.
Some upcoming small projects that the WSPP Program is working on or would like to begin include but are not limited to designing and constructing interpretive displays for the Hartman House, drainage improvements at Lincoln Park, ADA Improvements at Bo Diddley Plaza, renovation of the Flatwoods Conservation Area Trailhead, replacement of a bridge at the Northside Park disc golf course, reconstruction of the T.B. McPherson Tennis Courts, pavilion roof replacements, track improvements at Howard Bishop Middle School (a partnership project with SBAC) and many more.
Fiscal Note
The Wild Spaces &Public Places sales tax was approved by voters for eight years and is expected to generate $46,551,152 in revenue to the City. The PRCA Vision 2020 Master Plan, the outline of over $80M worth of park facility improvements throughout Gainesville, included an allocation of $3.5M for small project improvements. To date $1.4M has been allocated for small projects/project contingency. This agenda item requests allocation of an additional $2M from the WSPP unappropriated fund balance into the WSPP small project/contingency account to complete additional small projects.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve the allocation of $2M of the Wild Spaces & Public Places revenues towards small projects/project contingency.