Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
 

Date

March 10, 2008

 

Agenda Item No.        40

Roll Call No.                08-

Communication No.    08-136

Submitted by: Donald M. Tripp

                                Park and Recreation Director

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Payment to Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for improvements to the James W. Cownie Baseball and Soccer parks.

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Authorizing payment in the amount of $136,500 to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for expenses incurred in the construction of the James W. Cownie Baseball Park.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount:  $136,500

 

Funding Source:  G.O. bond funds in the FY08 CIP adopted budget of $136,500 from CP040PKS990000 PKS100 - Park Redevelopment, page 19.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

On July 10, 2006, by Roll Call No. 06-1395, the Des Moines City Council accepted ownership of the Baseball Park located at S.E. 22nd and Hartford Avenue and designated it as the “James W. Cownie Baseball Park”.

 

On March 28, 2005, by Roll Call No. 05-737, the Des Moines City Council entered into an agreement with Polk County and the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for the funding and construction of an 8 field baseball park (James W. Cownie Baseball Park).  Under the terms and conditions of this agreement, Polk County agreed to manage the design and construction of the improvements. The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation would provide the fiduciary support of collecting private contributions and making payments to the various contractors. The City would own the improvements. The James W. Cownie Baseball Park project consists of eight irrigated fields, bleacher seating at each field, two lighted fields, batting cages, a concession facility, a maintenance facility, parking, fencing, playground, signage and landscaping.

 

The baseball park opened in the spring of 2007 and serves as the home of South Des Moines Little League through the end of June and thereafter is rented, by the City of Des Moines’ Park and Recreation Department, to private groups for practices and hosting tournament events.  The total cost for the baseball park was $1.85 million with the City contributing $50,000 to Polk County on June 20, 2005, by Roll Call Number 05-1579 to support a Vision Iowa CAT grant application.  This facility was constructed at a higher level than originally planned, with the intent to support and host state, regional and national tournaments, resulting in the costs of construction exceeding the total donations collected. 

 

In meeting with the fundraising committee and Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, the City was made aware that upgrades to this athletic complex were higher than the private funds raised for this effort.  Therefore, the Foundation has requested and staff is recommending that the City and Polk County each contribute $136,500 to close out the construction balance on the outstanding invoices paid by the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for this project.  Upon City Council approval of this action, the City has received over $1.85 million in improvements with City support of $186,500 and over $1.6 million in private support for the construction of the James W. Baseball Park.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

 

Date:  July 10, 2006

 

Roll Call Number: 06-1395

 

Action:     Acceptance of ballpark improvements at Soldier Field and naming the ballpark the James W. Cownie Baseball Park.  (Council Communication No.  06-444) Moved by Brook to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

Date:  June 20, 2005

 

Roll Call Number: 05-1579

 

Action:   Authorization and allocation of $50,000 Grant to Polk County Board of Supervisors.  (Council Communication No.  05-358) Moved by Brooks to adopt.  Motion Carried 6-1.

 

Date: March 28, 2005

 

Roll Call No. 05-737

 

Action:  Intergovernmental 28E Agreement with Polk County and Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for development of Soldiers Field for South Des Moines Little League Baseball Park.  (Council Communication No.  05-150)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: NONE

 

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.