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RESOLUTION R-2021-112: A RESOLUTION OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NORMAN TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY APPROPRIATING $104,900 FROM THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE FUND BALANCE TO FUND VARIOUS MAINTENANCE REPAIRS AT LEGACY PARK IN UNIVERSITY NORTH PARK.
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BACKGROUND: The construction of Legacy Park was completed in September of 2015. The park includes an amphitheater stage, cover and seating area, a one-acre pond with LED lights and fountains, a promenade walk around the pond, a restroom building, parking area and extensive landscaping, irrigation and park lighting. The fountain and light components operate in a harsh aquatic environment and require periodic repair or replacement.
Beginning in 2014, a maintenance fund was established in the amount of $200,000 per year for the purpose of providing landscape and restroom maintenance services, along with other necessary repairs at the park. Both the Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority (NTIFA) and the University North Park (UNP) Business Improvement District (“BID”, the UNP property owners) contribute to this fund, with the NTIFA contribution decreasing $25,000 per year and the UNP property owner’s portion increasing $25,000 per year. The fund has a sufficient balance to address the current repair needs at the Park.
On December 11, 2018, City Council, at the recommendation of the UNP BID Board, approved an appropriation of $121,980 from BID funds for various repairs at the Park. Some of that work was completed, with some items still remaining to be done. $66,463 of that appropriation was returned to the UNP TIF Fund balance and reserved for BID purposes.
On November 26, 2019, NTIFA/City Council at the recommendation of the UNP BID Board, approved an appropriation of $20,400 for an annual fountain and lighting maintenance contract with Sunbelt Pools. It has been determined that due to the age and condition of the lighting and fountain equipment, Sunbelt Pools is not able to provide adequate service for these items, and their maintenance agreement has been terminated.
DISCUSSION: Parks Department staff met with Greenscape Pump Services, Inc., to review the condition of the Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and pump equipment in the Legacy Park pond. Much of the existing equipment is no longer serviceable and needs to be replaced. Greenscape has provided the attached quote in the amount of $125,300, which will replace all of the LED lights in the pond, solenoid valves that control the water cannons, touch screen controllers, and all of the electronic equipment needed to renovate the lights and fountains. The new solenoid valves located in the pond near the fountain nozzles are submersible, and will allow us to lower that equipment below the water line, out of view. This will greatly improve the appearance of the fountains. Additionally, this new equipment will provide total control over the programming of the lights and water fountain shows, which had previously been proprietary to the manufacturer of the original equipment. The new equipment will allow us to change or control the fountains and lights from remote locations, such as a desktop computer or a cell phone. Staff training for maintenance and programming will also be provided.
In order to complete these repairs, we are asking to re-appropriate $66,463 from the UNP TIF Fund balance, as discussed above, along with an additional appropriation of $38,437, for a total appropriation of $104,900. This information was presented to the UNP BID Board on March 12, 2021. The Board voted unanimously to support the proposal and recommend the additional appropriation from the UNP TIF Fund Balance Reserve For BID expenses.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Trustees of the Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority adopt Resolution R-2021-112 appropriating $104,900 from the UNP TIF Fund Balance - BID (Org 57, Object 29000) to Legacy Park Maintenance and Repair Services/Other Miscellaneous (Org 57770410, Object 44299) to fund various repairs at Legacy Park.