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Tamarac Approves Design Contract for Competitive 400-Meter Track Amid Cost Concerns 3

Tamarac City Hall {City of Tamarac}

The Tamarac City Commission on Wednesday approved a $486,115 contract to begin engineering and design work for a proposed 400-meter competitive running track and other major development at Tamarac Park and Multipurpose Center, a costly project city leaders have pitched as a potential venue for track meets and higher-level competition.

The approval authorizes the work by engineering firm Carnahan, Proctor and Cross, of Deerfield Beach, and covers conceptual work, a feasibility report, design services, and other services leading up to hiring a builder. City documents describe the 10.4-acre property at 7501 N. University Drive as one of Tamarac’s most popular parks, originally built in the 1970s and now being evaluated for redevelopment.

According to the proposal, the city is considering replacing existing baseball and soccer fields and related amenities with a 400-meter perimeter track and a multipurpose infield. The project would also include sidewalks on the north and south sides of the field for bleacher access, designated accessible seating, drainage work intended to prevent water accumulation, upgraded energy-efficient LED sports lighting, a parking study, and a building study to determine what to do with the existing multipurpose and recreation buildings on the property.

The contract divides the firm’s work into two phases. Phase 1 begins with a “track-fitting plan” to determine whether the competitive-grade track can be accommodated within the property’s space limits, followed by conceptual plans, cost estimates, renderings, a feasibility report, and other services. Phase 2 would include design plans along with permitting assistance and work in advance of the city’s seeking project bids from builders.

Residents raised concerns during public comment on Wednesday about both the scale of the project and the potential for costs to climb well beyond early estimates, particularly if the city intends to build a track capable of hosting competitive meets that require expanded parking, bleachers, and other supporting infrastructure.

Resident Kate Johnson argued the project is being pursued at the wrong time, given the uncertainty about city revenues.

“We might not get property taxes, we might not get business taxes, depending on what happens in the legislature and the upcoming election,” Johnson told commissioners. “And so this city must look at every single project and say, ‘Is this an immediate emergency? Is this something we have to do?’”

Johnson said the original pitch she heard suggested a $5 million project — city documents use the figure $6 million — with grant funding slightly reducing the city’s share, but she said that estimate no longer matches the scope now being discussed.

“There is absolutely no way the city is putting out $4 million and completely tearing down and rebuilding a multipurpose center replacement,” she said. “We are looking at millions and millions of dollars that are going to be spent on that project.”

“It was over the top,” she said of the project rendering shown at an earlier workshop meeting. “It looked more like the soccer stadium down the road than a small running track at Tamarac Park.”

She also zeroed in on the contract’s initial step of paying for a track-fitting plan to determine whether the facility can even fit on the site.

“Why would you vote to put in a track when you don’t even know if the track is going to fit on the property?” Johnson said.

Resident Carol Mendelson likewise urged commissioners to pause major spending in light of statewide uncertainty over revenues.

“It is irresponsible for this commission to continue spending as if our revenues are guaranteed,” she said. “This is a time when we should be tightening our spending, not looking to spend in excess of $5 million for a track field.”

“You were elected to protect core services and safeguard our finances, not spend every available dollar,” she said.

During commission discussion, Mayor Michelle Gomez criticized the city’s approaching the project in a piecemeal way — a strategy she said could leave commissioners committing to early expenditures without a full picture of what would ultimately be required to build a competition-grade track venue.

Gomez pressed staff on whether competitive standards and long-term operating costs were being evaluated early enough in the process. She asked whether requirements for a 400-meter track meant to host meets were being included and also raised maintenance concerns.

“Are we estimating the yearly maintenance on this track material?” she asked.

City Manager Levent Sucuoglu defended the phased approach as standard practice for large capital projects, and said the purpose of hiring a specialized firm is to establish a roadmap and determine feasibility before advancing.

Tamarac Approves Design Contract for Competitive 400-Meter Track Amid Cost Concerns 4

Proposed track at Tamarac Park.

“We are not anywhere near identifying the annual maintenance and future operating expenses,” Sucuoglu said, adding that such figures would not be reliable until the engineering firm makes their assessments.

Gomez argued commissioners should approve only the first step of the project.

“I would support an $8,000 determination [to see] if a track can fit there,” she said, adding she was concerned about being asked to commit to “half a million dollars” before the city has answers on related needs like parking, seating, and other site requirements tied to competitive use.

She proposed amending the contract motion to approve only the initial track-fitting work and, if the track fits, moving forward with approval of the other phases. Her amendment was not accepted.

The commission ultimately approved the contract on a 4-1 vote, with Gomez opposed.

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Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning journalist and author of two nonfiction books. He covers general assignment news and Jewish community issues for Talk Media. He has also worked as a staff writer at The Miami Times, the Rio Grande SUN, the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Riverdale Press, and Bronx Justice News.