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Home My WebLink AboutWS Item 01 - Corps Property Feasibility Study0uK ITEM# MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL 1 FROM: ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER&, MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2004 SUBJECT: CORPS PROPERTY FEASIBILITY STUDY BACKGROUND: The City Council approved a six months lease of approximately 770 acres of Corps of Engineers property on Lake Grapevine at the September 17, 2002 Council meeting. The lease included 188 acres at Meadowmere Park, 453 acres at Oak Grove Park and 129 acres at Silver Lake Park. Included in the lease are 10 boat ramps, 89 picnic sites, one large picnic pavilion, several restroom facilities, playgrounds and a campground with 61 camping sites. The City Council met for a Workshop on October 14, 2002 to discuss the proposed lease. At that meeting, Council Members expressed concerns over how the City could maintain such a large amount of park acreage with only the revenue from the boat ramps and campground, especially during the tough economic times. The City Council directed staff to conduct a revenue -generating feasibility study on the property to determine the best use for the property that could generate income to renovate, develop and maintain the property. At the meeting, Council Members Sharron Spencer, Ted Ware and C. Shane Wilbanks agreed to serve on a committee to work with staff on not only the feasibility study, but also to review current ordinances, policies and fees relating to the Corps property. Since the Workshop, the Council Sub -Committee has met numerous times with staff and brought recommendations on fees, policies and ordinances to the full Council for approval. Below is a timeline relating to the new Corps property. September 17, 2002 City Council approves a six month lease of 770 acres of Corp property. October 14, 2002 City Council meets for Workshop to discuss the lease of the new Corps property. Council directs staff to conduct a revenue generating feasibility study on the Corps property. Council Members Sharron Spencer, Ted Ware and C. Shane Wilbanks agree to serve on a Sub -Committee to work with staff on the feasibility study and policies, ordinances and fees relating to the Corps property. January 28, 2004 (12:46PM) have been working to improve the roads, courtesy docks, and other facilities on the Corps property. When fees were first increased for the use of the boat ramps and camping, staff received many complaints from citizens. Now that many of the facilities have been upgraded as promised by staff, staff receives very few complaints. Total revenue collected on the Corps property for FY 2003 from the campground and boat ramps was approximately $341,000 and the total expenditures were approximately $316,000. However, the Corps of Engineers paid the utilities for the fiscal year and that amounted to approximately $60,000. Staff is now managing the Corps parks like an enterprise fund with the expenditures and revenues balancing. For FY 2004, one staff person has been moved from the General Fund to the Lake Parks Fund. Officials from Carter -Burgess will present the plan on the Corps property to the Council at the February 3, 2004 Workshop. Components of the plan include Adventure Pointe, Nature Escape, Port of Grapevine and The Vineyards Camping and RV Park. Staff is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with the development of the Corps property. There is certainly great potential in creating a park system that is financially self-sufficient and unique in the State of Texas. 79D January 29, 2004 (7:28AM) November 6, 2002 The first meeting of the Council Sub -Committee to discuss fees relating to the boat ramps, campground and park entrance. December 2002 Staff sends out Requests for Proposals to several consulting firms regarding the revenue generating feasibility study. January 30, 2003 Staff interviews two consulting firms for the feasibility study. February 3, 2003 Staff interviews one consulting firm for the feasibility study. March 5, 2003 Council Sub -Committee interviews Carter -Burgess for the feasibility study and also discusses ordinances, fees and policies relating to the Corps property. March 18, 2003 City Council approves contract with Carter -Burgess for the revenue generating feasibility study. Council also approves a six-month lease extension for the Corps property. April 10, 2003 Council Sub -Committee meets to discuss fees and policies relating to the Corps property. September 22, 2003 Staff sends correspondence to the Corps requesting a three- month extension on the Corps property. November 13, 2003 Council Sub -Committee meets with Carter -Burgess to review the recommendations of the firm regarding the feasibility study. The Sub -Committee recommends several modifications to the plan. December 8, 2003 Council Sub -Committee meets with Carter -Burgess for the second time to review the feasibility study. December 17, 2003 Staff sends correspondence to the Corps requesting a three- month extension on the Corps property. Since the City signed the first lease agreement for the 770 acres in September of 2002, the Council Sub -Committee has been invaluable in working with staff on setting policies and fees to help manage the Corps property and raise the needed revenue to maintain the property. Also during that time, Facilities Services staff has inspected all facilities on the Corps property including the picnic shelters, restroom facilities, docks and facilities at the campground and identified supplies and materials that were needed to upgrade the facilities. From those inspections, Corps officials have provided the City with all the requested supplies and materials and Facilities Services staff has upgraded the facilities. Also, staff from the Street Department and Parks Maintenance Department January 28, 2004 (12:46PM)