Title
Discussion and Possible Action Relating to Proposed Changes to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fund
Recommended Action
I move that the County Council approve $13.928 million of capital improvement funds for the Splash Pad, Golf Course, and Multi-generational Pool and direct County Staff to begin work on these projects.
I move that the softball field project be assigned to the Parks and Recreation Board for further evaluation and public input, and the Parks and Recreation Board provide the County Council with a recommendation by February, 2018 that addresses softball and baseball capacity issues.
I move that the County Council defer discussion of funding for the recreation center until the Laboratory contract has been awarded in April, 2018.
I further move that County Staff be directed to explore additional ways to increase the number of gymnasiums, to include evaluation with the Los Alamos Public School District of possible gyms located on school campuses.
I further move that staff return to Council with a budget revision that implements these changes to the CIP.
Body
The Los Alamos Community and County government have evaluated the need for improved recreation facilities over the past two years with extensive public input, project scoping and cost analyses. In December, 2016, the County Council voted to prioritize five projects for funding consideration; and in February, 2017, the County Council voted to forward these five projects in a general obligation bond election that would raise funds to pay for them. The bond election would have raised $20 million and if it was approved, the County Council would allocate an additional $13.4 million in capital improvement funds to fully fund the five projects. In May, 2017, the community voted against the bond election: 3,446 FOR and 3,932 AGAINST.
While the election result showed that a property tax increase to pay for these facilities was not supported, the election fostered a robust discussion in the...
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