HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 012 (4) INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-012
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 24, 2023
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*a SUBJECT: WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER ARPA-FUNDED
rrn CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE
The purpose of this Informal Report is to update the City Council on the status of the ARPA-funded Concourse
Renovation and Air Handler Replacement projects at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
The Will Rogers Memorial Center is one of the preeminent equestrian facilities in the United States. Per a recent
economic impact study performed by the Highland Group, the 17 buildings that make up the WRMC complex host
approximately 111 events annually,generating over 800,000 visitor days.
On September 27, 2022, the Fort Worth City Council approved M&C 22-0789, designating $7,850,000.00 in
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for capital projects in the Will Rogers
Memorial Center Coliseum. The ARPA Revenue Recovery funds were to be divided between a renovation of the
Coliseum concourse($1,925,000)and the replacement of air handling units($5,950,000)in the facility.
The current cost estimate for these projects is now $15,200,000. Funds have not been allocated to cover the increase
in expense.
If the projects are separated, the concourse renovation is projected to cost $6.2M and the air handler replacement
$9.4M.
To address the cost issue, after consulting with the venue's customers, the Public Events Department is
recommending the entirety of the funding currently in place be invested in customer-facing improvements in the
WRMC Coliseum:
• Renovation of the WRMC Coliseum Concourse and Restrooms(estimated at$6.2M)
• Renovation of the WRMC Coliseum Backstage Club(estimated at$1.3M)
• Renovation of the WRMC Coliseum Lobby(estimated at$1.0M)
The Culture and Tourism Funds will fund the $650,000 difference between the ARPA Funding and total cost of the
proposed projects.
The replacement of WRMC air handling units will be funded through future PED Capital Improvement Programs.
We are working with Finance on projected schedules for available funding.
Work on the above-described renovation projects will begin immediately, with the understanding that all ARPA
funding must be fully committed by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 31, 2026. We anticipate
developing an M&C for council consideration to authorize staff to proceed with this revised spending plan.
If you have any questions or concerns related to this effort, please contact Michael Crum, Director of the Public
Events Department,at 817-392-2501.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS