Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jan 18, 2006 16:06:50 GMT -5
City boosts in-kind work to $175,000
Dec 17, 2005 Current-Argus
CARLSBAD -- An increase from $50,000 to $175,000 of in-kind services for the Cascades at Carlsbad project was approved by a 6-2 vote of the council Tuesday. But some council members expressed concern that work on regular city business is not being done as work continues on Cascades and a youth sports complex. Cascades is a commercial development project with water features located along the Pecos River and spearheaded by the Carlsbad Department of Development.
Lorraine Allen, director of Carlsbad Tomorrow Inc., a CDOD subsidiary, said the city agreed to provide $50,000 of in-kind services for infrastructure and utilities for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, which plans to locate in the Cascades.
However, that agreement was four years ago, Allen said, and construction has proven more difficult than previously believed. She said construction crews have been encountering groundwater while digging at the site for a storm drainage system, and that has slowed the work.
Councilman Jeff Diamond asked where the money for the project was supposed to come from and whether the city would be hiring additional personnel to work at Cascades and another beneficiary of city in-kind services, the Carlsbad Youth Sports Complex. "We're not talking about additional personnel," said Luis Camero, city director of utilities and public works. "It (in-kind work on projects like Cascades) has not kept us from doing certain work. But Camero said he agreed with Diamond that in-kind work has slowed the city's regular work. "We have been robbing the city of normal city business," Councilwoman Louise Tracy said.
City Administrator Jon Tully said the city has always robbed Peter to pay Paul but the situation at the Cascades project was exceptional. On Wednesday, Tully explained that there would be no increase in the city budget. "It's just in-kind costs. It's costs we would be incurring in our normal budget, whether they were working on project A or project B. It's just an issue of where they would work," Tully said. Tully told council members the estimate for in-kind services was first provided in 2002 and work did not start until April 2005. Also, he said groundwater has come up significantly since the 2004 flood.
Camero said tests at the site four years ago showed that the water table was about 12 feet below the surface, and construction crews are now hitting water at 8 feet. "It is a surprise to everybody that the water table has come up that much," Camero said.
Allen said in-kind donations are limited to utilities and infrastructure for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute facility. "There is no city match or city money on the water feature," Allen said. Tracy and Diamond voted against the budget increase.
www.currentargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/NEWS01/512170303/1001
Dec 17, 2005 Current-Argus
CARLSBAD -- An increase from $50,000 to $175,000 of in-kind services for the Cascades at Carlsbad project was approved by a 6-2 vote of the council Tuesday. But some council members expressed concern that work on regular city business is not being done as work continues on Cascades and a youth sports complex. Cascades is a commercial development project with water features located along the Pecos River and spearheaded by the Carlsbad Department of Development.
Lorraine Allen, director of Carlsbad Tomorrow Inc., a CDOD subsidiary, said the city agreed to provide $50,000 of in-kind services for infrastructure and utilities for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, which plans to locate in the Cascades.
However, that agreement was four years ago, Allen said, and construction has proven more difficult than previously believed. She said construction crews have been encountering groundwater while digging at the site for a storm drainage system, and that has slowed the work.
Councilman Jeff Diamond asked where the money for the project was supposed to come from and whether the city would be hiring additional personnel to work at Cascades and another beneficiary of city in-kind services, the Carlsbad Youth Sports Complex. "We're not talking about additional personnel," said Luis Camero, city director of utilities and public works. "It (in-kind work on projects like Cascades) has not kept us from doing certain work. But Camero said he agreed with Diamond that in-kind work has slowed the city's regular work. "We have been robbing the city of normal city business," Councilwoman Louise Tracy said.
City Administrator Jon Tully said the city has always robbed Peter to pay Paul but the situation at the Cascades project was exceptional. On Wednesday, Tully explained that there would be no increase in the city budget. "It's just in-kind costs. It's costs we would be incurring in our normal budget, whether they were working on project A or project B. It's just an issue of where they would work," Tully said. Tully told council members the estimate for in-kind services was first provided in 2002 and work did not start until April 2005. Also, he said groundwater has come up significantly since the 2004 flood.
Camero said tests at the site four years ago showed that the water table was about 12 feet below the surface, and construction crews are now hitting water at 8 feet. "It is a surprise to everybody that the water table has come up that much," Camero said.
Allen said in-kind donations are limited to utilities and infrastructure for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute facility. "There is no city match or city money on the water feature," Allen said. Tracy and Diamond voted against the budget increase.
www.currentargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/NEWS01/512170303/1001
