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Council OKs $900,000 toward biodiversity center
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
The Coppell City Council, at a Feb. 26 meeting, voted 4-2 to approve $900,000 to go toward the building of a $1.68 million biodiversity center at the Coppell Nature Park.
The funds will be made available for the project once a contract has been signed and both Friends of the Coppell Nature Park and representatives of Northstar Construction agree to the terms.
Coppell City Manager Clay Phillips said Wednesday, “It is important to note that until the necessary agreements are completed and agreed to by all parties, the project will not move forward. Having said that, I have a great deal of confidence that the project will move forward as expected.”
Prior to the vote, Friends of the Coppell Nature Park representatives had said that they would oversee the construction of the project. However, several council members said they felt that the city should oversee the construction.
Both Mayor Pro Tem Tim Brancheau and Place 5 Coucilman Billy Faught said prior to the vote that, while they were not opposed to supporting a biodiversity center, they were concerned about how the agreements were being made.
Brancheau said, “I want to make sure we have everything in line so we will be protected as a city. I am not feeling that right now.”
Faught said, “What I can’t get my arms around is the process we are going through.”
Brad Reid, director of the Coppell Parks and Recreation Department, had told the council members in the work session that unless the funds were approved that night, that some of the donations of service which had been promised “would disappear.”
Place 6 Councilman Marvin Franklin said he would support approving the funds.
“Based on what I have seen so far, we have strong community support,” he said. “This is an asset that our community needs. There is an educational aspect to this that you cannot place a cost on.”
The council went into executive session shortly before 9 p.m. and returned about 15 minutes later and voted.
A motion was made by Place 2 Councilman Bob Mahalik, seconded by Place 6 Councilman Marvin Franklin, “to approve funding in the amount of $900,000, condition upon the execution of a contract with the Friends of the Coppell Nature Park and the contractor for donations collected, and any acquired in the future, in the amount of $486,000 for construction and material services, and $375,000 in cash donations from the school district, and authorize the city manager to sign upon approval as to form by the city attorney.”
Place 3 Councilman Wes Mays and Place 7 Councilman Aaron Duncan joined Mahalik and Franklin in voting in favor.
Phillips said, “We clarified council’s intent prior to their voting on the motion to ensure everyone understood that the city will be overseeing the project.”
He added, “Assuming the language of the agreements is satisfactorily completed, construction could begin next month.”
Reid said, “Bruce Helm and Aaron Scates of Northstar Construction estimate an eight-month construction period.”
Terry Hoyle, who is with SHW Group, is the architect for the project.
The facility being proposed would be 3,556 square feet, rising to 20 feet of glass at the nature park end of the building. It would have a large multi-purpose room which could be used as an education classroom or meeting room. It could even be used for a wedding reception, ballroom or conference room.
Lou Duggan of the Friends of Coppell Nature Park Foundation said, “"The city has asked to guide the construction process and FCNP is very comfortable with that. The FCNP goal was always to donate it to the city when complete. In this manner the city council has oversight of the construction and overall costs. This request strengthens the construction process, protects investment by CISD, FCNP, the City, and the taxpayer. This will further ensure a great facility."
He added, “Naturally, our foundation board is very pleased that the city will assist in the construction of the biodiversity education center. The council's approval culminates four months of city boards and intensive review to make this happen. We brought more than a million dollars to the table. And, through such donations, the taxpayer gets a great deal.”
“It has taken us more than nine years to get to this point,” he continued, “so, yes, we are excited about partnering with the city to bring this facility to the community. Construction should start very soon."
Duggan had previously said, “Adult and youth education will be the main focus of the education hall. CISD is a partner in the project and their teachers will have access to the education hall for hands on education within the Nature Park.”
He further explained, “According to CISD staff, this facility will broaden science study, which is a main STEM focus by our state. On the elementary school level, the center will support hands-on curricula for food chain study, rock and fossil classification, plant and animal interaction, and aquatic organism studies.”
He continued, “At the middle school level, the center will provide a real world laboratory for the study of the classification of species, ecosystem interaction, ecological balance, conservation and preservation, and topography. At the high school level, the center will provide reality-based applications for bio-diversity and habitat, stream development and erosion, water quality, environmental impact and natural resource studies.”
Duggan also said that the city of Coppell “will probably employ the center as a place where it can provide city offices and educational programs on behalf of its citizens, including for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners and Master Composters.
“It will be a facility where adults join with youth for seminars on rainwater collection, green construction, composting, capturing solar energy, drought-resistant gardening, and bio-diversity study,” Duggan said. “It will be a focal point where Eagle Scout service projects are created and nurtured -- a place of creativity.”
He said the center will not only serve the citizens of Coppell, but will be available to people all over North Texas.
Representatives of the Coppell Independent School District also had voiced strong support for the biodiversity center.
Linda Cook, CISD science coordinator, said the center will “increase educational opportunities for learners of all ages. The building itself will incorporate green technologies, which will further the message of sustainability. The center will provide a learning space for hands-on investigations and inquiry-based research.”
Sid Grant, CISD assistant superintendent for business services, said, “This type of facility will allow students to become really engaged in environmental science in a place where they can see plants and animals interacting. Instead of Internet and textbook learning, students will learn hands-on.”
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