Supervisors approve park bonds, housing plan

Improvement plans for the John D. Winters Centennial Park Complex are moving closer to reality. Thursday, the Carson City Board of Supervisors took the first step toward issuing $5 million in bonds to finance improvements for the park in northeast Carson.

“When the bond is actually sold, and we have proceeds, the vast majority of some of that will actually come back under discussion anyway on how that money is actually spent,” said Mayor Lori Bagwell. “So I don’t want you to assume that we have already given permission for all on how the $5 million is going to be spent. It just has to be on recreational purposes.”

The vote Thursday was unanimous to approve a resolution notifying the Debt Management Commission of the city’s intent to issue the bonds. Bond authorization could take up to six months and would require more public hearings on a bond ordinance and a cooperative agreement with the Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority. CCCTA would be securing the bonds through a portion of the transient lodging tax, meaning visitors would be paying for the improvements.

According to CCCTA, the park is an economic benefit to the community and hosts more than 100,000 participants a year for sport tournaments, leagues and special events. Proposed improvements — such as converting the upper fields to artificial turf — would help keep the park a vibrant center for visitors and residents.

JNA Consulting Group, the city’s municipal bond adviser, has estimated the interest rate on the bonds at 5 percent. The resolution approved Thursday states funding would not be limited to Centennial Park.

“Bouncing off of your ‘including, but not limited to, improvements at John D. Winters Centennial Park,’ do you expect that any of this money could be spent on the Eagle Valley Golf Course?” asked Supervisor Maurice White.

“It is anticipated that all the money will be spent at the John D. Winters Centennial Park, but if the bids come in less and we have savings, it is possible,” said Carson City Chief Financial Officer Sheri-Russell-Benabou.

Bagwell wanted the public to understand that 2 percent of the transient lodging tax, or room tax, is dedicated to bonds for recreational facilities — as stipulated in city code. The pledged revenues for the $5 million in bonds would include a larger percentage of the tax to better secure the bonds.

“The plan then and still is to pay the debt service on this bond from the 2 percent that’s generated in what CTA calls the capital projects fund,” John Peterson of JNA told the board. “However, as typical with bonds, we generally pledge whatever is legally allowed. So out of the 11 percent room tax that’s effective in Carson City, we’ve identified 5 and 13/16 percentage that’s not already obligated or prohibited from being used to repay debt service.”

Though room tax revenue is anticipated to be more than sufficient, Peterson said the city’s general fund would “backstop” the debt as with other municipal bonds.

“I don’t anticipate that is going to happen, but it is a possibility,” he said.

“When we sell these bonds, the more pledge and more security we can offer the bond buyers, the less interest we have to pay,” added Russell-Benabou.

According to a staff report, the estimated annual debt service payments for the bond issuance would be approximately $405,000 for 21 years.

In other action:

• Supervisors unanimously approved the city’s 2023-28 Consolidated Plan dealing with housing and infrastructure issues. The plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as required for the city to receive Community Development Block Grant funding.

According to city staff, approximately $374,115 has been awarded to the city from the CDBG program this fiscal year, but the city needs to submit the plan before those dollars can be allocated for specific projects. Both Carson City Public Works and Friends In Service Helping have applied for CDBG funding for ADA improvements to Carmine Street and parking improvements at FISH, respectively.

In the past, CDBG funds have been used for ADA improvements to streets and sidewalks throughout the city. Thursday, Carson City Grants Administrator Rebecca Phipps said a recent survey showed positive feedback on how the city has used funding.

“We have had 143 respondents to our survey. That was as of yesterday,” Phipps said. “Of the question do you support utilizing CDBG funds for projects that we have done previously — and that’s Colorado Street, College Parkway, North Carson Street, basically street improvements and ADA sidewalks — and 79.58 percent of respondents said yes, and then 20.42 percent said no.”

The public’s top three projects for CDBG, Phipps said, are street and sidewalk improvements, the demolition of vacant and blighted buildings and water, sewer and storm system improvements.

“Seventy-nine percent agreeing, that is a good response,” said Bagwell.

The survey is available online until Aug. 7: https://www.carson.org/government/departments-a-f/finance/grant-funding.

• Supervisors recognized three individuals for helping the Carson City Senior Center with meal service while construction was ongoing at the facility this spring. The dining room and west entrance of the center were reopened Thursday, and a ribbon cutting is planned for September.

The three individuals who stepped up were Billy Lavelle, owner of Carson City Bus Boy, Pastor Pat Propster of Calvary Chapel and Phil Hyatt, owner of Carson City BBQ. Senior Center Executive Director Courtney Warner presented each with an award Thursday.

“We love being able to count on you,” said Supervisor Curtis Horton. “Unfortunately, we have to count on people so often. But you know what? Everybody always comes through, and people enjoy that.”

“Just a huge thank you,” added Supervisor Lisa Schuette. “And I think about the spirit of community and how community really is a team.”

• Supervisors presented a giant $200 check to Carson City Park Ranger Tyler Kerver, who was recognized as the city’s employee of the quarter.

“It just shows the community the dedication of the staff of Carson City,” said Bagwell. “They care deeply about the success of our community, and here is a fine example of this.”

Community members were recognized by the Board of Supervisors on Thursday for their help maintaining meal operations at the Carson City Senior Center during spring construction. From left, Senior Center Executive Director Courtney Warner, Phil Hyatt of Carson City BBQ, Billy Lavelle of Carson City Bus Boy and Pastor Pat Propster of Calvary Chapel with supervisors and the mayor. (Scott Neuffer photo)