PRESENTER: Presenter
Jeff Jewell, Director, Economic and Community Development
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SUBJECT: Title
Presentation and discussion of a proposed project expenditure for a master planning effort for the Comal County Fair Association and Comal County Youth Livestock Association
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DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels (CoNB) and Comal County Fair Association (CCFA) collectively own approximately 38 acres at the 700 block of East Common Street. The City controls approximately 33.4 of the 38 acres and the CCFA owns the remainder:
The CCFA is the organization responsible for organizing and operating the annual Comal County Fair, as well as other events hosted at the site throughout the year. The Comal County Junior Livestock Show Association’s (CCJLSA) mission is to promote the agricultural life by providing the youth of Comal County with a venue to show and sell their livestock projects. These two groups are the grounds’ most frequent and intense users and they are proposing to engage in a master planning effort for the property in conjunction with the City of New Braunfels.
ISSUE:
The three entities - CoNB, CCFA and CCJLSA- are proposing to undertake a master planning effort for the entire property (scope attached). The purpose of the effort is to define how the property can best serve the primary users and provide an overall benefit to the community. The effort would take approximately 120 days and would yield a high level space plan, conceptual designs and preliminary budgets and timelines for any proposed facilities and other improvements. Comal County has also been facilitating a discussion amongst the different groups
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed consultant- thinkSMART planning, inc.- has assembled a team that includes Priefert Complex Designs to assist with architectural and space planning services and HMT Engineering to conduct any engineering or environment site assessments as needed. The proposed planning effort is proposed at $93,250.00 with an add alternate for the engineering services at $29,250.00 for a total cost of $122,500.
Both Associations are proposing to provide a financial contribution to the planning effort. The CCJLSA has indicated its board will vote in early August to formalize at $15,000 contribution.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Direction on whether the NBEDC would consider the item at its August meeting