What is next?

On October 28, 2024, the City of Brentwood hired an architect with expertise in designing sports facilities to provide a full final design plan for the possible Indoor Racquet Facility project. The final design plan will be provided to the City Commissioners in May/June 2025. At that time, we will have the necessary additional information on how we could move forward. I work hard to gather factual information when making decisions on behalf of the residents of Brentwood. Therefore, I am waiting for this additional information before taking the next steps. 

Can we have a Referendum?

Tennessee State Law determines when a city can have a referendum. Please visit this link to see the list of instances that allow referendums by State Law. Residents are not able to petition for a Referendum unless there are certain criteria associated with the project. For this project, the only way to have a referendum, according to State Law, is to have a bond issued. 

We have not yet issued bonds for this project because it is too early to decide if we should issue bonds. Issuing bonds means that we take on debt. Based on the preliminary information we have received on this project to date, we have funds available to pay for this project without taking on debt or raising taxes. Additionally, the City has already allocated $6,500,000 towards the project, and the budget calls for $1,500,000 more to be designated on June 30, 2025. View our City Budget Here. View our City CIP here. Furthermore, our Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Plan has almost $5,000,000 additional funds to be allocated. That is a total of $13,000,000. At this time, I do not see the need to issue bonds or incur debt on this project with the information we currently have. But, as stated above, we are waiting to hear back on final design plans in May/June 2025 which will provide us with the necessary additional facts to make further decisions.

The last bond referendum in the City of Brentwood was in 2004 - over 20 years ago. There were actually two bond referendums on the same ballot with two separate votes: 

·      Vote #1 was for $4,000,000 to extend Mallory Lane to the north, through a neighborhood, to Concord Road. (In today’s dollars, that would be $6,200,000.) It failed 53% to 47%. 

·      Vote #2 was for $50,000,000 for preserving green space. (In today’s dollars, that would be $83,000,000.) It failed 52% to 48%. 

I am very engaged with the community. I receive feedback from the residents on many subjects. I listen to feedback from many angles that support and challenge various matters in the City of Brentwood. For the past two years, I have heard many sides on this potential project.  In June 2023, I voted for the formation of the Indoor Racquet Facility Ad Hoc Committee and became its liaison. This committee was comprised of residents who volunteered their time to give their input and expertise, and I felt it was extremely important that residents be directly represented in the planning of this project. Gathering resident input is exactly what we have been doing for the last two years: residents have attended our meetings, spoken during public comments sections of our meetings, emailed the City Commissioners, called/texted me, and even stopped me in the aisles of Kroger, and we have had great discussions about this project! Also of note - to date, The City has taken four over years to work on this project. This project has not been rushed through or hastily planned.  

Is it a Self-Funding and Public facility?

1.      This proposed facility is a self-funding facility. This means that the fees paid by the players cover all costs associated with operating the facility. And, according to research and market data, this new facility will bring in excess revenue (a profit). Every indoor racquet facility in Middle Tennessee, public or private, currently makes a profit. 

2.     This proposed facility is not a club or a training facility.  It will be open to every interested resident of Brentwood. Those residents will be able to make a reservation and pay a fee to play in the facility. This is the same current process for our City’s outdoor tennis courts; residents pay to have a reserved time on a City-owned outdoor tennis court. You can find the current fees for the City’s outdoor tennis courts here.  

What is the Background?

Sadly, incorrect information is being circulated, and residents are confused. Residents are encouraged to go to the City Website to find the accurate information. 

To summarize the project’s background:

1.            The City of Brentwood has been studying this possible indoor racquet facility for over four years. Residents originally brought this issue to the City in 2020, and as a City Commission, we have been studying this possible facility in our public meetings for the past 23 months.

·      The best place to start your research is on the City Website. Click here. 

·      To read the report from the Indoor Racquet Facility Ad Hoc Committee, click here.

·      You might also be interested in learning more about this project by reviewing City Commission meetings by clicking on the following dates: March 9, 2023, April 20, 2023, June 12, 2023, November 9, 2023, January 18, 2024, May 9, 2024, October 28, 2024, and January 13, 2025.  

2.           At the beginning of this project, all 7 Commissioners stated in a public meeting (dates listed above) that there was a demand and need for this facility in Brentwood. We have seen unity on this subject.

3.           During the research of the potential project, The City looked into partnering with Williamson County. Also, the City looked into partnering with a private individual. These potential partnerships did not come to fruition for various reasons. I am personally open to a partnership, if a viable partnership were to become available.

4.           The City has yet to explore the option of sponsorships. Sponsorships in the facility could reduce the cost of the facility.  

5.           If years down the road, tennis and/or pickleball fall out of vogue and can no longer monetarily support the building and its costs, the City can choose to use the facility for whatever the City sees best. The City will own this asset!

6.           The Indoor Racquet Facility’s current estimated cost is $13,000,000. You may have heard a different dollar amount, but it is true…the Indoor Racquet Facility, alone, is estimated to cost $13,000,000. This number includes a built-in contingency. 

7.           Over the last two years this project has evolved, and two elements have been added to it:

a) Our City has been planning to relocate the Parks Department’s offices for many years. This possible project provides the opportunity for the “Economies of Scale.” We can build these much-needed offices for our staff and parking for their fleet vehicles. The cost of this Parks office relocation is $2,000,000. 

b) Additionally, while looking at Crockett Park itself, and hearing from residents and their thoughts on this project, the City staff and Commissioners decided that a long-over-due second entrance to the park could be built at this time. To build this second entrance, it is estimated to cost around $1,000,000. So, when we add it all up, these 3 projects have a combined total estimated cost of $16,000,000.

Thank you for reading this email! Thank you for being interested in what is going on in the City of Brentwood! Thank you for the time you have invested in researching and learning more about this specific project!  As always, you can email your 7 City Commissioners (click here) on this or any subject!