City eyes $5 million bonds for Centennial Park

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will consider $5 million in general-obligation bonds for improvements at the John D. Winters Centennial Park Complex on Thursday.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the community center.

“John D. Winters Centennial Park is located on the north end of Carson City and is host to more than 100,000 participants annually for sports tournaments, adult sports leagues and special events,” reads a staff report. “The Centennial Park infrastructure is aging and requires capital reinvestment to maximize use, reduce potential safety concerns and ensure it remains competitive as a venue for tourism related opportunities and an economic benefit for the community.”

Proposed improvement could include converting upper fields to artificial turf, installing a landscape buffer for wind mitigation and drainage enhancements and maintenance equipment and storage.

“The Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority supports these improvements because they would increase the playability for year-round field use for sports tournaments and tourism opportunities in Carson City,” reads the report. “The improvements would not only increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, but also reduce overall maintenance and water usage.

“The proposed project to convert the upper fields will complement other existing projects, already budgeted, intended to rehabilitate and reinvest in this park for the benefit of the community.”

Current projects include replacement of the concession/restroom and rehabilitation of the tennis courts. According to the report, $300,000 is available in quality-of-life funds for fiscal year 2024, which would make the total project budget $5.3 million.

Supervisors are being asked to approve a resolution notifying the Debt Management Commission of the city’s intent to issue the bonds. If approved, the city also would enter a cooperative agreement with CCCTA for pledged revenues, among other measures.

“The interest rate on the proposed bonds was estimated by the city's municipal advisor, JNA Consulting Group LLC, to be 5 percent,” reads the report. “Based on current market conditions, JNA considers this estimate to be conservative.”

Annual debt service on the bonds would be paid by the CCCTA through a transfer process with the city. The bonds would be secured by a percentage of the transient lodging tax set forth in Carson City Municipal Code 4.08.080. The estimated annual debt service payments would be approximately $405,000 for 21 years, according to fiscal impact statement.

The resolution that supervisors will weigh in on says the financing proposal for recreational facilities is not limited to Centennial Park improvements.

In other action:

As part of the consent agenda, supervisors will also consider a contract with Ponderosa Roofing and Steel works to resurface the roof of the Carson City Senior Center.

Total expenditures would not exceed $157,295, according to a staff report. The project would replace the composite shingles on the senior center, and the city would purchase new roofing materials for about $41,000.

Ponderosa is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder under state law, according to the report.

“The (Ponderosa) contract’s not to exceed amount of $116,198.50 comprises the base bid amount of $105,635, plus a 10 percent contingency of $10,563.50,” reads the report.

The project was approved as part of the fiscal year 2024 capital improvement plan.