(Columbus) The Columbus City Council recently discussed and reviewed a proposal from Parkitecture and Planning for a potential project at Fireman’s Park. The project would evaluate the current park layout and incorporate the stormwater plans in a potential redevelopment. Alderwoman Sarah Motiff wanted to know if the cost of the project will be built into next year’s budget.
“So, there’s money for the design is what I’m trying to say,” says City Administrator Matt Amundson. “How we fund the actual improvements I think will get work through during our capital improvement discussion.”
Amundson says it could be funded multiple ways.
“This could be funded through borrowing, this could be funded through the potential creation of a new TIF district,” Amundson says. “It could be funded potentially from enacting a stormwater utility.”
The city administrator says it depends on the sequencing and how everything moves forward. Alderman Michael Lawson wondered if the designs and budget estimates that will be integrated into the Capital Improvement Plan in the fall will make it into the budget planning process.
“No,” the city administrator says. “We’ll have to have some placeholder items and be flexible with that. Again, some of what the master plan for the park calls out are going to be immediate and have to be tied to the stormwater and some may set up, you know, future CIPs for other improvements that make sense.”
The city administrator says it depends on the sequencing and how everything moves forward. The matter will be discussed further at the next council meeting.
