Okaloosa County BOCC — September 6, 2016 — Request to Transfer Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park to Unincorporated — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: September 6, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Jason Autrey SUBJECT: Request to Transfer Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park to Unincorporated Account Funding DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: 2 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request Board approval to change the designation of the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park from a County Park funded through the General Fund budget to an Unincorporated Park funded through the MSTU budget. BACKGROUND: In the 1984 dual taxation law suit, the park referred to in the suit as ‘Little League Park’, which is now the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park, was the only County owned and maintained ball park in the entire County. The ruling at that time was that the 'Little League Park' was deemed as being ‘…of real and substantial benefit to the persons and property within the incorporated limits of said three cities…’. With this ruling, Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park was designated as a County park funded through the General Fund. The original Stipulation and Agreement for the lawsuit is recorded in the Official Records Book 1230 page 463 and a copy is an attachment to this request. Since that time, the County has constructed three additional ball parks (Baker, Garden City and Shalimar Elementary School) which all fall under the unincorporated MSTU funded budget. With the construction of the additional ball parks, it is the belief that the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park no longer provides a substantial benefit to persons only within the incorporated limits of any city within Okaloosa County and should fall under the same funding source as the others. Operationally the intent is to treat all four parks identically. Due to the limited funding in the General Fund, Parks Staff have been unable to provide like services to the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park compared to the other three ball parks. By designating the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park as an Unincorporated Park funded through the MSTU fund, like services, maintenance and appropriate upgrades can be applied to all four ball parks equally. Any new Capital Improvements will begin to be incorporated in the FY18 fiscal budget. Estimated yearly budget impacts associated with the change beginning with the FY17 budget are as follows: Electricity - $9,400 Water - $1,700 Garbage - $3,300 Fire Safety Checks - $500 Estimated costs for Personnel Services and Equipment Expenses - $17,200  Total Estimated Yearly Cost - $32,100 Consideration to provide funding of the Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park through the MSTU has been discussed with and approved by the County Attorney. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove the change in designation of the ‘Little League Park’, now known as Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park, to the unincorporated MSTU funded budget. RECOMMENDATIONS: Request Board approval to transfer the ‘Little League Park’, now known as Shalimar/Port Dixie Ball Park, to the unincorporated MSTU funded budget. The new designation will be incorporated with the FY17 budget. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator