ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Development, Construction, Operations, Maintenance and Concession Agreement between the City of Houston, Texas, UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, and MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY, INC for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department for the development, operation and maintenance of Memorial Park  DISTRICT C - COHEN - TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS GALLEGOS AND KUBOSH

 This was Item 38 on Agenda of December 9, 2015

SUBJECT: An ordinance approving and authorizing a Development, Construction, Operations, Maintenance, and Concession Agreement between the City of Houston, Texas, Uptown Development Authority, and Memorial Park Conservancy.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve an Ordinance approving and authorizing Development, Construction, Operations, Maintenance, and Concession Agreement between the City of Houston, Texas, Uptown Development Authority, and Memorial Park Conservancy.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
On April 1, 2015, the City Council by Ordinance 2015-0215 unanimously approved a Memorial Park Master Plan which envisions the restoration, enhancement, and redevelopment of Memorial Park in a manner appropriate to meet the demands of the more than four million current annual visitors.

It is recommended that City Council approve an ordinance allowing the City of Houston, Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) and Uptown Development Authority (UDA) to operate, maintain, and develop Memorial Park in a manner consistent with and to implement the Master Plan. Note that the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and the Memorial Park Golf Course are excluded from the scope of the agreement.

The City, by working in partnership with MPC and UDA through this agreement, contemplates a more expeditious and complete implementation of the Master Plan. A combination of private and governmental funding sources will create a more robust restoration and maintenance level for Memorial Park, as well as upgraded public infrastructure and recreational facilities.

MPC will fundraise for maintenance, operations, and capital improvements for Memorial Park. MPC will assume general greenspace maintenance and some operational responsibilities upon approval of the agreement. As funds are raised and new recreational facilities are constructed, MPC will take on the additional maintenance and operational roles associated with those projects. The City will continue to provide funding for Memorial Park at fiscal year 2016 budgeted levels.

UDA developed an amended project plan, which was approved by the City Council by Ordinance No. 2013-470 on May 15, 2013, which includes funding for infrastructure enhancements and improvements for Memorial Park in accordance with the Master Plan. In addition, UDA will provide funding to help restore the ecological integrity of Memorial Park over the next 10 years.

On December 3, 2015, a presentation was given to the Quality of Life Committee providing an overview of the terms of the agreement. Attached to this RCA are the key terms of the agreement.