On June 5, City Council was scheduled to consider a resolution amending the project funding agreement between the city and the Municipal Development District for the project.
Council member Emily Stroup made a motion to postpone the agenda item, citing a need for additional information and consideration of options. The motion was seconded by council member Keith Rhoden and unanimously approved by the rest of council.
“I still have a lot of unanswered questions about this project, and uneasiness about it,” Stroup said.
What they’re saying
Residents voiced concerns regarding the project, including parking issues, the removal of heritage oak trees, the tight space of the development and the overall cost.
Resident Carole Willoughby said there is a need for a building to host city government meetings and voting, but the size of the proposed center on the municipal complex does not seem like the best use of funds.
“The monies are there, but is this really the wisest way to spend it? The wisest project to spend it on? Is there a way we can trim it down?” Willoughby asked council.
Through citizen comments presented to council, residents showed support for a community center project, but advocated for a different location or concept.
Council member Jonathan Swarek said he supports the postponement of the project to allow more time for consideration.
“We have heard from the residents, and it seems like everybody is pretty sure that there is a better deal out there somewhere,” Swarek said.
How we got here
The community center has been a project in the works since around 2017, but with COVID-19 and supply chain issues, got pushed back after focus was put on the construction of a new city hall.
According to the final design of the project presented to City Council on Jan. 16, the facility would include an open space with a capacity of around 200 people. A conference room, warming kitchen and restrooms are also planned for the facility.
In January, a workshop with City Council was held reviewing the final project design, estimated at $2.45 million.
Through the Request for Proposals process, 13 proposals were received, ranging from $2.62 million to $3.85 million.
Crawford (CHC) had the lowest bid for around $2.68 million, which was negotiated down to around $2.46 million. This cost was planned to be funded through grants from the Municipal Development District, which is a Fair Oaks Ranch taxing entity established in 2009 with the purpose of providing a stimulus of economic growth within the city, according to the city website.
During the creation of the district, residents approved a half-cent tax to be added to the municipal sales tax.
Contingency of $120,000 and furniture, fixtures and equipment estimated at $250,000 were intended to be city-funded.
What’s next?
An indefinite postponement allows the City Council to revisit the project at any future meeting, not limited to a specific timeline.
Future approval will be dependent on the direction that City Council takes when reviewing the project plans and considering possible changes.
As of June 5, there was no specific direction on the project other than a desire for further City Council review.
