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Item # 2.
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| Town Council Regular Session |
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| Information |
| SUBJECT: |
| DISCUSSION, DIRECTION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FROM TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL SPORT FIELDS AND RELATED IMPROVEMENTS FOR NARANJA PARK |
| RECOMMENDATION: |
| Staff is seeking direction from Town Council on a proposed plan to build and finance additional sport fields and related amenities at Naranja Park. |
| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: |
| Staff is seeking direction from Town Council regarding the presentation of a plan to build and finance additional sport fields and related amenities and infrastructure at Naranja Park to meet the needs of the community per direction from Town Council at the February 15, 2017 regular Council meeting. |
| BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: |
At the February 15, 2017 regular Town Council meeting, over 100 youth sport parents and Oro Valley user group representatives were in attendance requesting that Council take action to construct additional sport fields at Naranja Park. Council direction was given to staff to return at a future Council meeting with a plan to finance additional sport fields in response to this community request.
BACKGROUND HISTORY
Naranja Park is a 213-acre parcel located north of Naranja Drive between La Canada Drive and 1st Avenue. The Town purchased the land in 2000 with the intent to build a park site consisting of a wide range of amenities to appeal to all ages and user groups, and underwent a significant park master-planning process during the mid-2000's. In November 2008, the Town held an election to request voter approval to issue $48.6 million in general obligation bonds to begin the first phase of park construction, consisting of earthwork, infrastructure, playfields, courts and other outdoor recreation elements. This bond election was unsuccessful, and only in the past several years, development of fields and amenities at Naranja Park has occurred on a pay-as-you-go basis as funds have come available in the Town's budget. This recent development has followed an updated Naranja Master Plan, which was approved by Town Council in July 2015. Currently, Naranja Park contains the following elements:
- Archery range (fixed range and two walking courses)
- Walking trails
- Dog park (large and small)
- Two lit multi-sport fields (oversized)
- Two additional lit multi-sport fields (oversized) to be completed by the end of 2017
- Restrooms and staff offices
- Associated infrastructure to support existing elements
- Space for a Veterans and First Responders Living Memorial
The full Naranja Park Master Plan, as adopted in 2015, includes the following:
- Multi-sport fields (soccer, football, lacrosse, etc.)
- Seven natural turf, lit fields
- One synthetic turf, lit stadium field
- Baseball field complex (baseball and softball)
- Four lit fields
- Concession building (includes restrooms)
- Playground, splash pad, community lawn
- Event center building
- Outdoor performance venue
- Skate/bicycle park
- Group use area
- Archery range
- Pedestrian and bicycle staging area
- Dog park
- Other associated elements (restrooms, shade structures, maintenance facility, etc.)
A statistically valid survey (attached hereto) was included as part of the 2015 Master Plan update with multi-sport fields, baseball and softball fields, and playgrounds/ramadas ranking at the top. The estimated cost for full build-out of all elements in the 2015 Master Plan is approximately $33 million.
Over the past two years, significant community engagement for the Your Voice, Our Future General Plan update resulted in the community's request for additional sport fields, implementation of the Naranja Park Master Plan, and an overall emphasis on enhanced park facilities and youth sports. The General Plan was approved by Oro Valley voters in November 2016. Attached hereto is a summary of excerpts from the 2016 General Plan focusing on park facilities, services and amenities.
PROPOSED PLAN
In response to the community user groups' requests and subsequent Council direction, the following proposed plan to build additional sport fields and related amenities is offered for Council consideration:
- Three (3) lit multi-sport fields (oversized)
- Baseball/softball complex including:
- Four fields
- Concession building with restrooms
- Batting cages
- Two (2) Restrooms
- Pedestrian walkways
- Playground
- Ramada/shade structures
- Paved parking spaces (300 additional)
- Improved and extended roadway to include shared use path from Naranja Drive to Tangerine Road
- Park maintenance equipment storage area
- Associated infrastructure improvements (earthwork, utility extension, etc.)
The firm of McGann & Associates has been engaged to develop a cost estimate and conceptual design for this proposed plan. The total estimated cost for these new elements is $16.7 million, which is a more conservative approach recommended to address the immediate requests and needs from the community compared to full build-out of the Master Plan costing an estimated $33 million. Please see the cost estimate breakdown and the conceptual design attached hereto. |
| FISCAL IMPACT: |
CONSTRUCTION FINANCING
Because this project represents a significant long-term investment in Town park infrastructure, general obligation (GO) bond funding is suggested to finance these improvements. Annual principal and interest payments on an estimated $17 million GO bond issuance are approximately $1.4 million per year for 20 years. The issuance of GO bonds and the implementation of a secondary property tax as the source of revenue dedicated specifically for the repayment of GO bonds requires voter approval. The secondary property tax would sunset at the end of the bond term when the bonds are paid off. Based on current calculations, the estimated average property tax rate that would generate approximately $1.4 million per year for debt service payments is $0.22/$100 of assessed valuation. This rate results in an estimated monthly cost impact of $4.50 to an average homeowner with a home valued at $250,000.
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE (O&M) COSTS
In order to properly maintain these fields, it is anticipated that the Town would need to purchase additional equipment in the first year totaling approximately $230,000, including mowers, utility vehicles, sprayers and a crew cab pickup to haul materials and equipment. This would be a one-time expense that could be funded through the Town's General Fund. Ongoing annual O&M costs are estimated at approximately $570,000 for additional park maintenance personnel ($120,000) and operating expenses ($450,000). Annual revenue generation of approximately $370,000 is anticipated through user fees, tournament fees, special event fees and bed tax revenue from the overall economic impact derived from these additional fields, leaving a remaining amount of about $200,000 in General Fund revenues that would be necessary to fully cover the annual O&M expenses of $570,000. |
| SUGGESTED MOTION: |
Staff is requesting direction from Town Council on the community's proposed additional park elements being recommended, the proposed financing plan and direction to bring this item forward at a future meeting for further community input and discussion.
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