Those recommendations are up for Town Council consideration and could be placed on the May 3 ballot.
The details
The Blue Ribbon Bond Committee's recommendations total nearly $112 million. The Flower Mound Town Council discussed these recommendations during its meeting Jan. 16.
The proposed bond package includes $82 million for parks, trails and recreation projects in town, such as the expansion of the Community Activity Center, and $30 million to fix and maintain local streets. More information about specific bond projects can be found on the town's website.
Flower Mound Mayor Cheryl Moore explained that the town’s strategy is to shift dedicated sales tax toward paying for operations and maintenance costs in town and pay for capital improvement projects through debt.
“We have drastically aging infrastructure and amenities that we have to improve upon,” Moore said. “This places a strain on the town and our reserve funds.”
Some context
The Blue Ribbon Bond Committee went through months of public engagement, which included in-person meetings and an online survey. At the in-person events, participants were asked to rank their priorities for the bond. Street reconstruction and maintenance, and the expansion of the Community Activity Center were popular among these participants, town staff said.
Generally speaking, participants were in favor of infrastructure improvements and expansions to park and recreation offerings in town. However, they expressed concerns about the financial implications of the bond, the equitable distribution of the projects and the transparency of the process.
What they’re saying
Chuck Jennings, director of parks and recreation for the town, said the proposed projects could get done without the bond but they would likely be delayed.
"Right now we have [the projects] out in future years, but this would help speed up some of that, if it did get approved," Jennings said.
Some council members had questions about the specifics of the bond projects. Council member Adam Schiestel asked if more parking would be provided with a proposed park refresh in the bond, for example. Jennings said this is something the town would have to reassess after the project is complete.
Council members also asked for more specifics on the trail projects proposed in the bonds and the connections they would make across town.
Town Manager James Childers said staff would have more information on this by the council’s next meeting.
What’s next?
Council will continue discussing the proposed bond package with staff at its meeting Jan. 21.
The council could vote to place the proposed bond on the May 3 ballot at its meeting Feb. 3. For the bond to make it on the May ballot, it will have to be approved by Town Council by Feb. 14.
