Title
Amending the financing and spending plans in the Department of Parks and Recreation Capital Budget to utilize the new 1% local option sales tax to implement various capital projects throughout the City to revitalize and improve the Parks and Recreation system.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minnesota Session Laws 2023, Chapter 64, Article 10, Section 2-5 and Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 22, the City of Saint Paul established a new 1% sales and use tax to fund streets, bridges, and parks and recreation facilities improvements over the next 20 years; and
WHEREAS, the City will finance parks and recreation improvements with the 1% sales and use tax cash or with bonds; and
WHEREAS, the imposed 1% sales tax may be used to finance the capital projects, and pay debt service and associated bond sales costs; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation will be implementing the projects based on specific categories to address critical needs that prioritize spending based on asset condition, recommendations from the Parks and Recreation System Plan, demonstrated need, equity, and leveraging other non-sales tax funding; and
WHEREAS, due to the significant backlog of projects and opportunity to address growing community needs and assets that are either in a state of failure or in need of immediate investment, Parks and Recreation is planning to use $31,413,125 revenues from the 1% sales tax and debt financing in 2024, on the following categories, in accordance with the Five-Year Capital Plan adopted by the City Council on December 6, 2023.
- Revitalizing building and parks across the system to include addressing critical deferred capital maintenance needs for such things as HVAC, roofs, doors, windows, gyms, lighting and other building/park needs: $10,360,000.00
- Implementing the first phase of converting and updating the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory building heating from steam/boilers to Geothermal: $7,000,000.00
- Revitalizing asphalt across the system to replace and improve parking lots, trails, and sidewalks that have exceeded their useful life: $1,540,000.00
- Revitalizing fields across the system to replace existing synthetic turf that has exceeded its useful life, and improve non-synthetic turf and fields for various uses: $4,875,000.00
- Revitalizing courts across the system to replace and improve basketball and tennis courts that have exceeded their useful life, which includes potential dedicated pickleball conversions: $1,442,500.00
- Revitalizing play areas across the system to replace and improve play areas that have exceeded their useful life: $1,565,625.00
- Revitalizing water features across the system to replace or add irrigation, fountains, splash pads and other ornamental water features that have exceeded their useful life: $1,000,000.00
- Revitalizing downtown parks to advance various approved park plans and/or to improve, replace or add various park features and amenities: $2,520,000.00 $3,220,000.00
- Advancing the design for the River Learning Center: $100,000.00
- Advancing the design for a new Athletic Complex: $100,000.00
- Advancing the design for a new Community Center: $60,000.00
- Advancing the design for the River Balcony: $800,000 $100,000
- Advancing the design for park/green space at the Hillcrest development: $50,000
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does certify that there are available for appropriation funds of $31,413,125; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Saint Paul, upon recommendation of the Mayor and advice of the Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee, that $31,413,125 is available for appropriation in the Capital Improvement Budget, that said budget, as heretofore adopted and amended by the Council, is hereby further amended as specified in the attached financial analysis.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment
CIB Recommendation
The St. Paul Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee reviewed this request on January 8, 2024 and recommended approval.