Jasper Redevelopment Commission retains ownership of Parklands, parks department takes over stewardship

The Jasper Redevelopment Commission passed a resolution to grant the Jasper Parks and Recreation Department stewardship of The Parklands.

The redevelopment commission will remain the owners of the property although all planning, maintenance, and improvements will be the responsibility of the parks department and Jasper Park Board.

Redevelopment commission president John Bell asked if the commission should consider relinquishing ownership of the property as well as the stewardship.

City Attorney Renee Kabrick informed them that she didn’t feel the commission and city was prepared to take that step yet. During August’s Jasper Common Council meeting, the council asked for a list of pros and cons for the redevelopment commission to own The Parklands. That story here. 

To complete this, the redevelopment commission is working with consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes and attorney Richard Starkey to determine how advantageous the redevelopment commission’s continued ownership of The Parklands will be for future development.”

Curtin told the commission the it has the greatest flexibility when dealing with a piece of property compared to another city commission or organization boards. “That’s why I think this commission was originally tasked with the purchase of the property,” he said.

Curtin and Kabrick advised the redevelopment commission to wait to consult with Starkey, also.

Commission member Andrew Seger stated he felt is was time to turn The Parklands over to the Jasper Parks and Recreation Department. “I am happy to wait to see a list of pros and cons, but I will have to really see a compelling reason to keep it under this commission’s ownership and management,” he said.

Bell asked parks Director Ken Buck, who was in attendance at the commission meeting, what he thought about the ownership.

Buck stated that as they have learned more about the role of the redevelopment commission in the ownership of The Parklands, they have realized the potential advantages. “I think we are just curious to what we (parks) are supposed to be doing with this project.” Ken Buck stated.

CityVisions and Gamble and Associates will be presenting The Parklands plan during the Jasper Park Board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m. at the Jasper City Hall.

To assist in paying for the improvements outlined in the Jasper Downtown/Riverfront and Parklands plans, the city is exploring the implementation of tax increment financing districts. A presentation explaining how this funding mechanism works is below.

Curtin, who is assisting the city in planning the TIF districts, told the commission he emailed a draft of his plan for the implementation of those districts to the commission for review. The plan identifies areas in which the districts could be used to encourage investment but those areas have not been finalized.

Curtin informed the commission he hopes the final resolution regarding the establishment of the TIF districts will be back before the commission in January.