The Rio Dell City Council voted to continue consideration of acquiring property for what staff described in the agenda as the Beta Street Park (discussed by council members and staff as Davis Street Park) and to postpone any expenditure of local funds for title and survey work until after an anticipated grant announcement.

City staff presented a recommendation to delay paying for title reports and a boundary survey while the city awaits an announcement on land-and-water conservation grant funding, which staff said could be announced “potentially sometime in February 2026.” The council voted to continue the item 3-0.

Why it matters: the decision pauses work that would commit local dollars to acquisition tasks while preserving the city’s ability to pursue state or federal grant funding to pay for acquisition and improvements. Staff flagged several constraints that could affect grant competitiveness and later use of the land if the grant is accepted.

Staff said the cost to prepare current title reports is roughly $3,000 and that prior similar survey work previously billed around $4,500. The presentation said earlier surveys dating to 2014 would need to be redone because a large solar field has been installed on part of the area and property boundaries would require adjustment. Staff also told the council the grant being pursued would typically require a 50% match and that the city “could have to provide approximately 15% of the cost of the acquisition,” language staff used while describing matching and acquisition cost scenarios.

Council members and the council member who put the item on the agenda said they prefer to avoid billing the school district for title adjustments and instead would rather seek grant funding to cover costs. That council member said she had spoken with the school superintendent and expected the school board to consider a related lot-line question at its meeting the following evening.

City staff also cautioned the council about grant limitations: the state grant program uses a mapping tool that reduces competitiveness for parcels near preexisting parks; staff cited examples of nearby jurisdictions encountering grant-selection difficulties for similar sites. Staff recommended the council receive an update from the mayor pro tem and defer substantive action until staff can provide additional information after the grant announcement.

Council action: Councilmember motioned and seconded to continue the item until the city has grant program results; the motion carried 3-0.

Next steps: staff will report back after the grant announcement window and after the school board’s decision about the lot-line configuration referenced during the meeting. The council’s choice does not commit the city to acquisition; it delays local spending on title and survey work until further information is available.