Orange city officials had an architect design plans with cost estimates for a new park with splash pad, improvements at Memorial Field, and a community center.
Jim Clark of Architectural Alliance presented the plans during a Tuesday City Council workshop. Mayor Jimmy Sims said the council needs to make a decision within 60 days on how to spend $8 million to be borrowed.
However, real estate businessman Cullin Smith, who also serves as chair of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, spoke out. “I don’t understand why the rush to take on $8 million of debt.”
He also questioned why the city is preparing to sell bonds to be paid off for 20 years. “Why get more debt just because we pay some off?”
The mayor ended the workshop saying the council needed to get the projects on a council meeting agenda so they can get an official vote.
“If we don’t make a decision, we pass up on approval for the $8 million bonds,” Sims said.
Sims is not running for re-election and his term will end in May. The council will have at least one new member in May. A current member is running for mayor and has a challenger, so the council has a chance of having two new members in May.
After the workshop, Smith said District 2 Councilor Brad Childs asked him to speak. Smith presented a proposal to have the city invest in developing the part of 16th Street south of Interstate 10 that still has 1940s’ small houses, many with small businesses.
Smith said the small plots don’t have room for things like a Burger King, which is being built in Pinehurst. But when added to the plots of small houses behind 16th Street, the land can be developed commercially like Putnam Plaza. He said the city will need to move the water and sewer lines that run between the old houses.
The council has been looking into long-range projects because a set of bonds will be paid off. City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre (pictured above talking to council) has told the council for the past two years that in 2019, the bonds for money borrowed to pay for the police station and No. 3 fire station will be paid.
The city has paid about $500,000 a year on debt for those bonds. The city could borrow $8 million more for 20 years and have the same yearly payments without having to increase the tax rate.
The council held workshops in June and July of 2016 about possible projects. Then a month ago, the council had a workshop. At that time, council members instructed the staff to plan to borrow the $8 million, but the council did not specify projects. No deadline was mentioned.
Architect Clark, who has designed recent Stark Foundation buildings and the remodel of the Southern Pacific Train Depot, came up with detailed plans on projects for Memorial Field baseball-softball area and the Natatorium.
He suggested tearing down the 40-year-old covered pool and using the site for a splash pad in the middle. The park will be surrounded by the live oak trees planted some 75 years ago. The plans have a traditional playground with equipment, plus an animal play area with a separate fenced space for “non-social dogs” that don’t play well with others. Picnic shelters will be provided and a walking path will surround the park.
The proposal also included new bathrooms and concession area at Memorial Field off Interstate 10. The city could build a community center for the public to rent rooms on the site.
Clark said the old National Guard Armory on Meeks Drive is owned by the city and is next to the Memorial Field tennis court. He said the community center could be built on land owned by the city with room for parking.
City Economic Development Director Jay Trahan said the total cost for the park at the Natatorium would be $2.15 million, including playground and splash equipment. The Memorial Field improvements would be about $911,000. The community center would be about $871,000.
Those projects add up to $4.9 million of the proposed $8 million.
Councilor Childs said road and street improvements in the city need to come first. In the March workshop, council members agreed to spend money on streets.
District 4 Councilor Annette Pernell also asked why they suddenly had to make a decision. She said she feels like “I don’t have any choice because we’re up against a deadline.”
City Manager Dr. Oubre said they had been talking about the bonds and projects for four years.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Why can’t the city repair our streets first? Just take a drive down Camellia ave. in Rose lawn.Plus many other streets in the area.
Until we clean our neighborhood’s up.
These improvements would be like putting a hundred dollar saddle on a fifty dollar horse. Use this money to help clean our city.
Really? So, just because you pay off one debt, doesnt mean you have to go out and spend more. So you get a coupon for 15% off if you spend $100. So you saved money, no, you still spent $100, you saved nothing. Just because you pay one debt, doesnt mean its a good idea to get another one. And yes, fix the roads. Maybe should attend some meetings in Pinehurst, since they are doing more and bringing in business. Splash pad, other side of tracks, why not get something in the center of town, for all taxpayers. As for Memorial, why not look into increasing parking places first, game nights and days, cars everywhere, sides of roads, in grass, parked at church. Little kids running in the streets. You have to crawl before you can walk.
I am in total agreement. Why not reduce taxes and let us spend our own money where we need it?
Really? Another splash pad and park for the drug heads, thugs and pan handlers to gather? I’m all for new businesses and entertainment options but not at the expense of our streets, drainage, sewer systems and safety. I am aware that this costs money but if you are going to assume another debt make it count! Fix what needs fixing throughout the city and then worry about the extras! And while you’re at it do something about the pan handlers/beggars on 16th Street! This has gotten so out of control and just plain ridiculous that more and more citizens are avoiding the area. I don’t care how many businesses you lure in here, if people don’t feel safe, then those businesses will fail! Listen to your people!
This was not a workshop. This was a presentation from General Oubre to his soldiers on City Council. Who told the architect what was wanted and who paid for it? This is a ruse to acquire funding to renovate a new City Hall. We need four members of council to stop the madness and take our City back! Mr. Oubre does not even own property in the County of Orange! Proactive management not reactive management!
The fact that the council is actively trying to improve the landscape around our community and trying to put more places for kids and parents alike to spent time and have fun should excite the community. Some of the reasons behind the shady behavior that is supposively going on might be a lack of positive avenues for teens and young adults to involve themselves in. The money back in your pocket will be pennies on the dollar. If we don’t start doing something to improve this city we will continue to shrink.
Totally agree with Cullin Smith. We need improvements on 16th street to clean up and grow Orange too. Take a drive down MacArthur and Strickland and see what Pinehurst has been up to. New businesses started or starting everywhere. Why can’t orange do the same. The tax increases alone from new businesses would more than pay for a splash pad a few years down the road. 16th street needs to happen ASAP.
Orange employees can’t do their jobs now, we have made many calls to the city about CODE ENFORCEMENT, but nothing has been done. Just take a ride through the Cove, trash all along the streets, neighbors yard hasn’t been mowed since last summer, vacant houses falling in, but yet we need to build a splash pad so Orange can have something else to keep clean and maintain??
We need to double the budget for code enforcement.