Summary The City of Alachua received $500,000 of Alachua County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds in November 2011 to contribute to the acquisition of the Legacy Park property. The acquisition was also funded by $500,000 of City of Alachua Wild Space, Public Places tax revenue and approximately $200,000 in private donations.
The City committed to the construction of three (3) multipurpose fields with a three year time frame on the property as part of an interlocal agreement with Alachua County for the TDT funds. The City requested a time extension in Dec. 2014 to construct the fields. The extension was denied by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners and the City was required to make six (6) payments over six (6) years to the County, totaling $500,000. The City made the first payment of $83,333.34 to the County in Dec. 2016.
The City has since constructed a 40,000 square foot multipurpose facility totaling nearly $8 million for the benefit of the public, for local use and the promotion of sports tourism for the region. The City approached the Alachua County Tourist Development Council on Nov. 8, 2017 requesting the remaining payments (totaling $416,666.66) be retained by the City for investment in capital improvements to Legacy Park. The Tourist Development Council voted 4-1 to recommend the same.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners considered the matter during its regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 12, 2017 and voted 4-1 to:
- Allow City of Alachua's Request to Reinvest their Remaining $416,666.66 Annual Loan Default Payment for Capital Improvements to Legacy Park ($83.333.34 per year for the remaining 5 years) in lieu of paying it back to the County;
- Authorizing Legal to prepare required document(s); and
- Authorizing the Chair and Clerk to sign.
This item is being brought to the City Commission to authorize the same. |