Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: City Center Skatepark Update <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: October 24, 2012 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Neil BjÓ§rklund <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-4909 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />This item is in response to council direction to hold a work session to bring back options for capital <br />funding and operations and maintenance funding for the planned skatepark in Washington-Jefferson <br />Park. The council is being requested to direct staff to work with a new coalition of community partners <br />to raise additional private funds, and to bring back a funding proposal in Supplemental Budget 1 to <br />appropriate additional Park systems development charge (SDC) funds from Balance Available for the <br />development and construction of the Washington-Jefferson Skatepark and Urban Plaza, in order to begin <br />construction of all four phases in 2013. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />On May 23, 2012, the council held a work session on using the 2006 PROS Bond to fund a portion of <br />construction costs for the skatepark in Washington-Jefferson Park. Staff presented updates and <br />background on the project, which is now being referred to as the WJ Skatepark and Urban Plaza (WJ <br />Skatepark). The council discussed the history and use of the 2006 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space <br />(PROS) Bond, and posed to staff a number of questions and directed staff to bring back information on <br />funding options for the WJ Skatepark, including the 2006 PROS Bond. In that work session, the council <br />broadly indicated support for moving construction of the WJ Skatepark forward with additional City <br />capital funding. <br /> <br />Update on Private Fundraising Partnership <br />Since the May 23, 2012, council work session, staff has been meeting with current and prospective new <br />partners with an interest in supporting the WJ Skatepark project. The partner group now includes the <br />Skaters for Eugene Skateparks (SES), Eugene Downtown Rotary, and the Eugene Parks Foundation. <br />These groups have expressed an interest in collaborating to raise additional funds in support of the WJ <br />Skatepark project over the next six months, with a target to begin construction in 2013. The City has <br />assembled a staff team from Parks and Open Space, Transportation Planning and the Recreation <br />Division to support the partners in their fundraising effort. The new coalition of partners, together with <br />the City staff team, have generated energy and enthusiasm for a renewed effort to involve the <br />community directly in supporting this important new public facility. Staff is working with the new <br />partner group to identify fundraising targets for obtaining funds from private foundations, local <br />businesses, regional corporations and individuals. City staff and the partner groups recognize the on- <br />going value of completing this project as a public-private partnership, both for the benefits of <br />community engagement in this project, but also for continuing the past success of public-private <br />partnerships for park development into the future. <br /> <br /> S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M121024\S121024B.doc <br />