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CASSELBERRY CITY COMMISSION <br />Minutes of March 27, 2023 — Regular Meeting <br />Page 11 of 16 <br />Budget Impact: Budget Amendment #23-039 will decrease Parks Master Plan Fund Improvements — <br />Other account #307-0410-572.63-24 and Parks Master Plan Other Non-operating Source account #307- <br />0000-389.90-00 each by $1,947,260 to remove construction funding for Sunnytown Park from the Fiscal <br />Year 2023 Budget. <br />BA 423-0396 <br />Explanation of Request: This item seeks City Commission approval to remove FY23 budgeted funds for <br />Sunnytown Park Improvements Project, in the amount of $1,947,260. <br />Account Number Account Descrintion Amount <br />Increase: <br />307-0000-389.90-00 Other Non-operating Source $1,947,260 <br />307-0410-572.63-24 Improvements — Other $1,947,260 <br />Recommendation: The City Manager and the Public Works & Utilities Director recommended approval <br />of Budget Amendment #23-039 to remove $1,947,260 in Fiscal Year 2023 parks bond funding for <br />construction of Sunnytown Park. <br />Discussion: Commissioner Albritton expressed several concerns about funding for Sunnytown Park being <br />removed from the budget and reallocated to other projects, including his feeling that taking the project off <br />the Ilse ai:d r'ednstr---, the funds would gave the appearance to I public that the CILy' was not keeping <br />its promise relating to parks improvements as approved by the voters, since Sunnytown Park had been <br />included in the public meetings and information given about all of the proposed improvements. He also <br />noted that even though Sunnytown was the lowest park on the priority list and was projected to be <br />significantly over -budget, the City had been very creative in re -envisioning and funding of other parks <br />projects which were also running over -budget due to the current high cost of construction materials. A <br />lengthy discussion ensued which included: reasoning behind proposal to remove funding for Sunnytown <br />Park improvements; wetlands and stormwater requirements; cost -over runs on all the other parks <br />improvements projects; whether all possible cost cutting measures had been applied; prioritization of the <br />parks projects; feasibility of changing the scope of the Sunnytown Park Project and keeping it on the list; <br />feedback from residents; need for maintenance for Sunnytown Park; potential for other funding sources for <br />improvements to Sunnytown Park, such as FRDAP (Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program) <br />and (Community Development Block Grant) funds; re-engaging the community at a future date about what <br />improvements would be appropriate and practicable for Sunnytown Park; and the feasibility of using funds <br />currently budgeted for Sunnytown to help with completion of higher priority parks projects currently in the <br />queue. <br />The other members of the City Commission who were present expressed an understanding of Commissioner <br />Albritton's concerns, but agreed that voting to approve the re -allocation of the funding for Sunnytown did <br />not mean that improvements would not be made, only that due to the wetlands and retention issues, the park <br />could not be built as originally proposed and it made more sense to utilize the funds for the project which <br />could be completed, do some maintenance to Sunnytown Park, and to reengage the public and re -design <br />the park in the future in a way that would work for the site and the surrounding community. <br />