City of Gainesville - File #: 180555.

• File #: 180555.
• Version: 10
• Name: Wild Spaces Public Places
• Type: Staff Recommendation
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/16/2018
• In control: City Commission
• On agenda: 3/4/2021
• Final action: 3/4/2021
• Title: Request for the City Commission to Allocate Funds from the Wild Spaces & Public Places Unappropriated Fund Balance for a List of Projects that will Kick off in 2021 and Approve Forest Park as a Wild Spaces & Public Places Project (B)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/4/2021	10	City Commission	Approved as Recommended
1/14/2021	9	General Policy Committee	Heard
3/12/2020	8	General Policy Committee	Discussed
11/7/2019	7	City Commission	Approved, as shown above
11/7/2019	7
10/3/2019	6	City Commission	Approved as Recommended	Pass
8/22/2019	5	General Policy Committee	Approved, as shown above
7/18/2019	4	City Commission	Approved as Recommended
6/6/2019	3	City Commission	Approved as Recommended
5/16/2019	2	City Commission	Approved, as shown above	Pass
4/11/2019	1	General Policy Committee	Approved, as shown above	Pass
1/10/2019	1	General Policy Committee	Approved, as shown above
11/15/2018	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

Title
Request for the City Commission to Allocate Funds from the Wild Spaces & Public Places Unappropriated Fund Balance for a List of Projects that will Kick off in 2021 and Approve Forest Park as a Wild Spaces & Public Places Project (B)

Explanation
In November 2012, the City Commission approved the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Vision 2020 Master Plan. During 2013 to 2015, citizens and staff worked together on the development of a specific list of projects referenced in the Master Plan. On February 18, 2016, the City Commission approved a list of 99 Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) potential projects and the prioritized list of projects with cost estimates. The Voter Referendum on Wild Spaces and Public Places passed on November 8, 2016 and the collection of the one-half cent sales tax began on January 1, 2017, and will continue through December 31, 2024. It is expected to generate over $60M in revenue to the City.

At the time of passage, Forest Park was owned and managed by Alachua County and was not included on the list of 99 WSPP potential projects. In November 2017, the park was transferred to the City. According to ParkServe there are 2,741 people who live within a 10 minute walk of Forest Park. This request is to formally add Forest Park to the list of 99 potential WSPP projects.

At the General Policy Committee meeting on January 14, 2021, the Committee heard a presentation from staff on proposed WSPP projects to kick off in 2021, as outlined in the “WSPP Projects to Kick-off in 2021” spreadsheet. A follow up discussion on an outdoor event center in Gainesville, Tom Petty Park and Glen Springs took place at the General Policy Committee meeting on February 25, 2021.

Strategic Connection: This item is connected to Goal 3: A Great Place to Live and Experience and is a high priority.

Fiscal Note
The Wild Spaces Public Places sales tax was approved by voters for eight years and is expected to generate over $60M in revenue to the City. T...