Previous and current Councils have long considered improvements to Miami Lakes Optimist Park. These improvements have been brought forward over the years through many public meetings, and soliciting input from stakeholder as to which features and amenities should be considered as part of the improvements. Through this process, a design and list of features was brought forward which contemplates inverting the current field design, improves parking, and would add additional structures and ammenties.

During a recent public meeting whereby we reviewed many of our strategic planning initiatives, we were provided an update on the progress of our plans for improving Miami Lakes Optimist Park, and it's related cost. At this same meeting we also heard much public input with respect to paying for the future improvements utilizing short term financing strategies versus long term financing of debt for the cost associated with future improvements.

During the course of the meeting, Town staff advised the Council that preliminary estimates for the park improvement projects where greater than initially anticipated, and as currently considered, these improvements would range from $8 - $9 million. Previous estimates for the upgrades which had been presented to previous and current Councils, and which had been included during the solicitation of the public input, considered the cost for these improvements to range between $4 - $5 million.

I would like to have a discussion with my colleagues whereby we would consider improvements to the park leveraging to the extent possible, the parks current infrastructure; while still improving the conditions of the fields, the seating and dug out areas, the addition of an interconnecting trail and exercise equipment, and any other improvements which could be completed without requiring the Town to go into a long term debt.

In the past, as we considered financing and payment options for this project, the Council had been presented short term capital investment plans with different payment methodologies for paying for these improvements in lieu of long term financing. Being that the cost for these improvements have shifted significantly, I am concerned that these options are no longer feasible/ viable. I would like to explore options regarding which improvements could bring the greatest value and community benefit and could bring this project back in line with our original projections.

Apart from the immediate impact to the anticipated cost as currently projected there are many ancillary benefits to considering alternatives which keep this project within the original estimates..

LESS PARK DOWN TIME: In discussing the current proposal with staff it is estimated that the park would be closed for over one year as field infrastructure and lighting is inverted, if we were to contemplate a design whereby we leveraged the exisitng infrastructure in place, the impact to park would be dramatically reduced and would thereby not require any of the existing programming to be relocated to other parks, and possibly outside of Miami Lakes.

IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN LONG TERM MAINTENANCE: If we were to leverage the existing lighting and infrastructure, the Town could retro fit the existing lighting and install more efficient LED lighting immediately which would dramatically reduce our current maintenance cost and ongoing utilities, creating an annualized savings immediately.

ADDITIONAL AMMENITIES: Adding an exercise trail and exercise stations should be one of the key design improvements we consider first. This improvement would transform this park into a community ammenity and would encourage year round utilization. At the core of the project we should also consider improvements to the dug outs and field seat areas, as these elements have been held off for many years as we have contemplated major improvements . Staff could also provide us with any options as to which additional ammenties could be considered immediately within the proposal, and which could be considered over time.

NO LONG TERM DEBT: If improvements to the park could be considered which maximized its current infrastructure we could immediately benefits from these improvements without forcing the Town into a position to assume long term debt. Furthermore, strategically aligning improvements over time could also create a pathway to improving the design without necessarily adding any additional debt service.

I see many benefits to considering a proposal which would maximize the current park infrastructure, considering that the initial estimates have doubled from $4 - $5 million, to $8 - $9 million. I would like see a plan which would stay true to the original cost estimates presented to the Council and I would like to see financing options which included alternatives to long term debt financing.

Fiscal Impact: TBD/Alternative Design Costs

Guiding Principles: 2,9,11,14

Objectives: 2.4 and 3.3