Title
Provide a Parks and Facilities Update regarding the Facilities Assessment Study, Mercer Park, and proposed 2027 events.
Body
REQUESTOR:
Parks and Recreation Department
BACKGROUND:
During Fiscal Year 2025-26, the City Council initiated a strategic effort to evaluate City facilities and develop a comprehensive inventory and assessment of municipal assets. Building upon that effort, staff continues to evaluate City facilities, park improvements, and community programming needs as part of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget development process and ongoing strategic planning initiatives to ensure City resources, investments, and service levels remain aligned with resident priorities, operational needs, and long-term community goals.
Facilities Assessment
During Fiscal Year 2025-26, the City Council initiated a strategic effort to evaluate City facilities and develop a comprehensive inventory and condition assessment of municipal assets. The Facilities Assessment was included as a City Council directed budgeted initiative for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to support long-term capital planning, operational sustainability, and future budget prioritization. The City contracted with engineering consultants LAN to conduct a comprehensive review of all facilities, including evaluation of HVAC systems, plumbing, roofing, foundations, electrical systems, and life-safety infrastructure. Each facility was assessed and assigned a condition score to help prioritize future reinvestment needs and support data-driven capital improvement planning. Overall, facilities ranked in the mid-range category, primarily due to facility age, deferred maintenance, and long-term lifecycle needs. The assessment provides the City with a strategic baseline for future capital planning, maintenance prioritization, budgeting discussions, and operational decision-making related to City-owned facilities.
Mercer Park
Mercer Park has remained an active design since late 2025. The project concept was developed through prior resident outreach and community engagement efforts conducted in 2022, which established the framework for the current design and programming elements. The Parks and Recreation Board reviewed both the initial and updated designs and, at its May 21, 2026, meeting, recommended moving forward with the concepts and proceeding with the project. The project is intended to support the City’s broader goals related to neighborhood investment, quality-of-life enhancements, recreational accessibility, and the activation of community gathering spaces. Current funding covers a majority of the park's most prominent features, such as the playground, pavilion, and pickleball courts.
2027 Proposed Events
As part of the annual budget development process, the City continues to evaluate the community event programming to ensure alignment with resident participation trends, operational capacity, and community engagement objectives.
Proposed major events for FY27 include Gateway to the Globe, the Independence Day Celebration, Fall Festival Event, Christmas Carnival, and Fishin’ Fun. Due to its continued popularity and high attendance, Fishin’ Fun is proposed to transition into one of the City’s major annual events.
Additionally, in 2025, the City Council approved a new Fall Festival event utilizing the existing Halloween in the Park funding. The inaugural event will feature a 5K run and a one-mile fun run, planned for fall 2026.
These events are intended to support community engagement, destination activity, public space activation, and overall quality-of-life initiatives throughout the community.
DISCUSSION:
Staff will provide updates to the City Council on the facilities assessment, Mercer Park, and the proposed 2027 events. The discussion will include the following information:
• Facilities Assessment Study performed by LAN Engineering Consultants
• Mercer Park 60% plans and current budget estimates
• Proposed events for Fiscal Year 2026-27
In addition to the major events, the proposed event “wheel” includes numerous smaller community engagement events held throughout the year, including the Day of the Dead event, Branch Arts Live, and the Veterans Day event. Additional community events supported by the Parks and Recreation Department, but not reflected on the event “wheel,” include programming at the Manske Library and the National Night Out event coordinated by the Police and Fire Departments. Proposed budgets for all FY26-27 events remain relatively flat compared to prior years.
DISTRICT:
Citywide
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation