Action was deferred Monday on a bill that would appropriate from the special City Council operating contingency account an additional $250,000 for Friends of Hemming Park.
The issue was discussed at a special meeting of the Finance and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety committees.
Council previously approved an additional contribution of $250,000 in the 2015-16 budget to help fund park operation expenses from May 1-Oct. 1, when the 2016-17 budget is adopted.
The Friends have a five-year contract to manage the park with the city contributing the initial $1 million for the first 18 months of expenses, plus the $250,000 bridge funding through Sept. 30.
Friends executive director Vince Cavin said the latest proposed appropriation would be used to construct a permanent stage in the park near the Skyway platform.
Cavin said the organization is negotiating a $250,000 five-year naming rights agreement for the stage with Community First Credit Union.
The Friends would receive the naming rights funds to help cover the costs of operations and programming and the city would fund construction of the stage, a capital improvement.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Daryl Joseph said an additional $100,000 is being sought for a contingency fund to refund to Community First $50,000 per year for the final two years of the agreement if it wishes to take its name off the stage because the Friends’ contract is not renewed.
However, Joseph said, “If Community First’s name remains on the stage, there would be no $100,000 from the city.”
“My sense is some members of the Finance Committee don’t think this bill is ready for prime time,” said chair Bill Gulliford, who sent the bill back to the committee for further discussion.
(904) 356-2466