Public Notice - Revision 1
General Information
- Government Type
- Municipality
- Entity
- Park City
- Public Body
- City Council
Notice Information
- Notice Title
- Public Notice
- Notice Tags
- Bonds
- Notice Type(s)
- Notice
- Event Start Date & Time
- October 26, 2023 06:00 PM
- Event End Date & Time
- October 26, 2023 08:00 PM
- Description/Agenda
- NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Bonding Act, Title 11, Chapter 14, Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended, that on August 22, 2023, the City Council (the 'Council') of Park City, Utah (the 'City'), adopted a resolution (the 'Resolution') in which it authorized the calling of an election (the 'Election') concerning a proposition for the issuance of the City's General Obligation Bonds (the 'Bonds') and called a public hearing to receive input from the public with respect to (a) the issuance of the Bonds and (b) any potential economic impact that the improvements, facilities or properties financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of the Bonds (see below) may have on the private sector. TIME, PLACE, AND LOCATION OF PUBLIC HEARING The Council shall hold a public meeting on October 26, 2023, at the hour of 6:00 p.m. in the City offices, located at 445 Marsac Avenue, Park City, Utah. All members of the public are invited to attend and participate. PURPOSE FOR ISSUING THE BONDS, MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND SECURITY The Bonds are to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $30,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs associated with constructing, improving, furnishing, and equipping new and existing City recreational facilities. These include but are not limited to expanded fitness facilities, field lights, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, Nordic area, refrigerated outdoor ice sheet, and support maintenance facilities, and paying costs of issuance of the Bonds. The Bonds shall be secured by ad valorem property taxes of the City to the extent authorized by law. The Bonds may be issued in one or more series and be sold from time to time, all as the Council may determine. The following statements include: the pro-statement for the bond and the associated rebuttal from the author of the con-statement, as well as the con-statement against the bond and the associated rebuttal from the author of the pro-statement. Pro-Statement It's been 22 years since Park City last asked voters to approve a recreation-focused bond. Vote Yes on the Park City Recreational Facilities Bond Question. As Park City residents, we benefit from a long and storied commitment to recreation, health, and wellness. Over 50 years ago, organized fitness began in the War Memorial Building on Main Street with a local adult basketball league. Nearly 40 years ago, Park City purchased the foreclosed and privately-owned tennis facility which became the PC MARC. Twenty-two years ago, residents approved a bond for the construction of the Park City Ice Arena and the construction of several neighborhood parks. Due to careful management by the Recreation Department and support of current and prior city councils, Park City has continuously improved recreation over the last two decades through varied sources of funding including grants, impact fees, and mindful budgeting. Notably, the City built the Park City Sports Complex at Quinn's Junction and funded the 2011 renovation of the PC MARC. Many additional improvements have been made possible through the ingenuity of city staff seeking grants. Summit County RAP Tax Grants, for example, supported projects ranging from field turf replacement to pickleball sound mitigation. As our community expands, and demand on existing facilities increases, residents need to comprehensively look at how best to improve recreation in our community while ensuring existing facilities receive the maintenance and attention they need. Over the past year, recreation department staff, the recreation advisory board, and community stakeholders have come together to create a future-looking Recreation Master Plan based on community outreach and volumes of feedback from previous recreation planning. Park City voters now have the opportunity to pass a $30 million general obligation bond to bring this work to life. The plan includes both new construction and improvements to existing facilities: 1) indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, 2) a refrigerated and covered outdoor ice sheet, 3) a Nordic skiing and trailhead area, 4) expanded fitness facilities, 5) a bicycle pump track, 6) new sports field lighting and 7) maintenance facilities. As part of this Recreation Master Plan, the City is also committing existing funds to replace the aging pools at the PC MARC and build a new City Park Recreation Building, home to the PC Summer Camp and other recreational programming. These investments not only create new recreation buildings but also substantially improve our existing facilities - many of which are operating beyond their intended capacity. Some of these needs (such as expanded field lighting and an additional ice sheet) had been identified as far back as 2013. As Park City continues to see growth, recreation provides the opportunity to gather with friends, meet new people and build community. Having a robust public recreation program ensures that everyone has access to the benefits that come from recreation, regardless of income. Now is our chance. Vote Yes on Question 1 and continue to advance the City's mission and commitment to 'enriching the lives in our community through exceptional people, programs, and facilities.' Abby McNulty 921 Norfolk Avenue Park City, UT 84060 Phone: 435-659-6946 Email: asmcnu55@yahoo.com Rebuttal to Pro-Statement It's been seven years since Park City voters approved a $25M open space bond to protect the Bonanza Flat. The bond allowed the City to purchase the area, securing it from potential development and providing ample outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and non-residents alike. Two years later, Park City voters were asked to approve another bond in the amount of $48M to conserve Treasure Hill as open space. The recreation value of both properties cannot be overstated and was highlighted in the 2016 and 2018 bond language appealing to 84060 residents. It is true that Park City has made significant and successful investments in recreation. That is evident in the 2022 NCS data. 95% of respondents ranked recreation opportunities as good or excellent while only 12% of residents ranked the cost of living as good or excellent. It is also true that many of these opportunities are also enjoyed by non-residents. While it's true the area is growing, Park City is not. The population of Park City has declined slightly since 2020. That is not the case for greater Summit County, and even less so in Salt Lake and Wasatch counties who have seen significant growth. Demand for recreational facilities is up but not just from Parkites. 85% of 2022 Ice Arena participants were non-Park City residents. It is NOT appropriate to ask 84060 taxpayers to fund additional recreation that benefits the entire region when critical needs are not being met within city limits. Megan McKenna 2216 Tremper Court Park City, UT 84060 Phone: 435-659-8465 Email: megan@housinghelp.org Con-Statement Prioritizing Critical Needs Over Recreation In their March retreat, the City Council reviewed the 2022 National Community Survey results. The data reveals Park City excels in safety and recreation and falls short in affordability and transportation. The Council identified affordability/housing and transportation as critical priorities. Now is not the appropriate time to ask taxpayers to take on debt for recreation. 1. Recreational Strength Already Evident: According to the survey, Park City already boasts a strong reputation for its recreational offerings. 95% of respondents ranked recreation opportunities as good or excellent. The community enjoys ample access to parks, 400 miles of trails, impressive recreational facilities, and 8,000 acres of open space. Park City provides world-class recreational opportunities and continues to allocate significant funds to recreation. 2. Critical Priorities: The survey results underscore Park City's most critical challenges. Only 12% of respondents ranked cost of living as good or excellent. The cost of living in Park City is 65% higher than the national average. Affordability doesn't affect everyone equally but the impacts are community-wide. To be a world-class destination, we must support the workforce that makes that possible. - Housing Affordability: The survey data highlights concerns about the escalating cost of housing. The average home in Park City is over $2M. Housing costs are 251% higher in Park City than the national average. - Childcare: The survey suggests that the accessibility and affordability of childcare is also a major concern of residents. The Council's one-time $1M contribution to childcare will go a long way but the problem is on-going. - Food Affordability: Food affordability concerns, as revealed in the survey, indicate that some residents are struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs. 16.5% of PCSD students are eligible for free and reduced lunch and the CCPC has reported an increase in food pantry services. - Transportation: With 9,000 of our 11,000 workforce commuting into Park City each day, the lack of affordable housing is also a traffic problem. Dissatisfaction with transportation options, including public transit and traffic congestion, indicates a need for substantial improvements to enhance mobility and reduce the city's environmental footprint. 3. Exploring Alternative Funding Sources: Instead of placing the burden of a recreation bond on taxpayers, the city should explore alternative funding sources for recreational improvements, such as public-private partnerships, grants, and user fees. 4. Allocating Resources Wisely: With limited resources, it is essential to prioritize critical needs which will have a more profound and immediate impact on residents and the overall sustainability of our community over additional recreational spending. It's vital that our elected officials, when presented with evidence, respect the will of the community and allocate resources in a way that prioritizes our most urgent needs. The 2022 NCS results provide a compelling case against the G.O. bond. Taxpayers should not be asked to fund an already robust recreational program when critical needs are not being met. It's essential to allocate resources thoughtfully to promote a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all residents. Megan McKenna 2216 Tremper Court Park City, UT 84060 Phone: 435-659-8465 Email: megan@housinghelp.org Rebuttal to Con-Statement Recreation is a Top Priority for Residents According to the National Community Survey, which was referenced by the con argument, 87% of Park City survey respondents do believe it's important to focus on recreation opportunities in the next two years. Now is the time to 'VOTE YES' on the recreation bond. Recreation Builds Community In cities and towns across the US, parks and recreation is predominantly a service provided by the local government. When Park City Municipal and Park City Recreation provide comprehensive recreation opportunities to residents, they are opening doors to a new sport or activity; helping residents live a healthy life; building closer ties with neighbors; and creating the bonds of friendship that keep Park City, Park City. Yes, we do need to tackle affordable housing and transportation, but we cannot do it at the expense of all other business of creating, managing, and nurturing our city's livability. Recreation Master Plan is Worthy of a Bond Recreation staff already do an exceptional job pursuing grants and being wise stewards of citizen's dollars. Most recently, the Prospector Park playground was re-imagined with funds from the Recreation RAP Tax. In addition, the Recreation Department recovers over 70% of their operating expenses through user fees (higher than industry standard), while still providing reduced or no cost memberships and scholarships to residents in need. A bond is now necessary to support a Recreation Master Plan. Abby McNulty 921 Norfolk Avenue Park City, UT 84060 Phone: 435-659-6946 Email: asmcnu55@yahoo.com ************** Park City shall conduct a public meeting on October 26, 2023, beginning at the hour of 6:00 p.m. at 445 Marsac Avenue, Park City, Utah. The purpose of the meeting is to hear arguments for and against the issuance of the Bonds.
- Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
- NOTICE OF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Michelle Kellogg at 435-615-5007.
- Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
- Members of the public may attend in person or participate electronically. Public comments will also be accepted virtually. To comment virtually, use eComment or raise your hand on Zoom. Written comments submitted before or during the meeting will be enter
Meeting Information
- Meeting Location
-
445 Marsac Avenue
Park City, UT 84060
Show in Apple Maps Show in Google Maps - Contact Name
- Michelle Kellogg
- Contact Email
- michelle.kellogg@parkcity.org
- Contact Phone
- (435)615-5007
Notice Posting Details
- Notice Posted On
- October 10, 2023 01:52 PM
- Notice Last Edited On
- October 10, 2023 02:15 PM
Download Attachments
File Name | Category | Date Added |
---|---|---|
Arguments and Rebuttals - Park City G.O. Election 2023.pdf | Other | 2023/10/10 01:51 PM |