Sports Park problems persist

Problems at the Brownsville Sports Park continue to rise along with its cost, which has tripled over the course of the project.

Amid new problems comes possible litigation regarding the construction of the facility, although officials with the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp. are keeping mum on the issue.
 
"This was discussed in executive session," said City Attorney Mark E. Sossi, who also represents BCIC. He declined the opportunity to comment Monday or elaborate on the possible litigation.

Former BCIC boards, with the blessing of past city commissions, have spent slightly more than $35 million on the Sports Park since 2002 when it was first envisioned as a $10 million facility.

But the current BCIC board and city officials have become increasingly frustrated over the direction the corporation took in committing the majority of its sales tax revenues to the Sports Park. The BCIC was created to develop quality of life projects for the city.

Of the $3.6 million in projected revenues for the current fiscal year, $2.6 million recently had to be allocated to pay for the debts, administration, and maintenance of the Sports Park. The fiscal year began on Oct. 1.

According to the minutes of the Aug. 15 BCIC board meeting, "potential litigation related to the Sports Park construction contract," was brought up at the session. The board went into executive session to discuss the issue.

Commissioner Rose M. Z. Gowen, who took over as chair of the BCIC in January after former Commissioner Charlie Atkinson’s term was up, also declined comment on the possible litigation.

But she is adamant about the direction the current board has taken.

"I think all of us have said Ya (enough is enough) with respect to new construction," Gowen said Monday.

With the exception of completing prior board commitments, Gowen said that no new projects have been approved. Upgrades to bleachers and construction of bathrooms, locker rooms and concessions are the only commitments that were held over to this year.

Vice Chair Jude Benavides, Secretary Blanca Perez-Moreno, and holdover directors Carlo G. Hernandez, William Garza and former City Commissioner Anthony Troiani join Gowen on the BCIC board.

"The board is determined to return to quality of life projects — plural," Gowen said, recalling that she lobbied for the creation of the BCIC and is very attuned to its original intent.

"Clearly we are on the same page as a board, and we have all made it very clear the direction that we want to lead in and all of our votes have been unanimous. We’re moving in the right direction so that accountability can be there," the commissioner said.

The board recently amended its Sports Park administrative and maintenance contracts with the city to allow it the flexibility of exploring options regarding its future, including handing over the park to the city so that BCIC can concentrate on developing new projects.

Having to deal with problems that keep surfacing at the park has taken a lot of the board’s time, and "it is very frustrating to sit in a meeting where you know what the corporation is supposed to do," Gowen added.

Minutes of BCIC board meetings this year reflect that some of the concerns deal with:

>> Changes to the design of the bleacher project after it was found that the water table was not as deep than originally tested.

>> Erosion control.

>> The need to move a power light pole.

>> The need to re-aim lights.

>> The need to place additional concrete casing for the bleacher foundation.

>> Concerns regarding the height of a rear fence atop the grandstand bleachers.

A malfunctioning sprinkler system and drying grass have also distracted the BCIC board this year.

David Ivory, a former city public works director, told the board in June that the irrigation system had various broken valves, sprinkler heads and wiring that needed to be repaired or replaced and that this was the reason the system was not functioning properly, according to public records.

Ivory’s assessment of the turf grass was that, "the maintenance currently given to fields was not sufficient and that significant improvements were possible. In order to protect the investment made at the park, Mr. Ivory recommended either hiring an outside consultant or significantly revamping the maintenance of the fields," minutes of the June meeting reflect.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Director Chris Patterson told the board that his department does not have or expect to have funds or staff to adequately maintain the field turf at the Sports Park.

The board is considering outsourcing the maintenance of the fields, but Gowen said there are concerns over funding.

"We cannot, of course, give up the park, go to the bank and get our money back. Our concern is to ensure accountability," she said.