Adam Dolsak, of the Engineering/Design Company CH2M Hill presented a second design proposal for the Community Center building at Alonzo Williams Park yesterday at the City Council Meeting.The design took into account suggestions made by the public, City Council and City of Apopka Staff as well as stayed within the budget of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the City of Apopka is applying for to fund the project.
The estimated construction costs of the first design were $974,000 and the size of the building was 6957 square feet. The alternative design is $750,000 and the building size is 5519 square feet.
According to the City’s informational packet/agenda for the meeting, the CDBG deadline is March of 2016, which means the Commission needed to approve a design soon in order to include it with the grant proposal. They voted 5-0 to advance the alternative design.
Before the vote, there was a motion made by Commissioner Billie Dean to allocate the funds for the project in lieu of the grant.
“We should make a concerted effort to set aside the funds,” said Dean. “Either way, let’s go ahead and do this project.”
Commissioner Bill Arrowsmith had reservations about that allocation.
“If we allocate the funds, it might take us out of the running for the grant,” he said. “I don’t want to jeopardize the project, and we have already spent $100,000 (on the design).”
After discussion between Dean, Arrowsmith, members of the City Staff in attendance and Mayor Joe Kilsheimer, Commissioner Dean withdrew his motion.
The park is named after Alonzo Williams, Apopka’s first black City Commissioner and the first to oversee the Parks and Recreation Department. He served on the city council from 1970-1996.
