# Saco City Council Meeting - October 5, 2026

At its October 5, 2026 meeting, the Saco City Council discussed the proposed Pepper Park redesign, with three master-plan options estimated at $6–9 million, $4.5–7 million, and $3.5–5 million. The estimates exclude demolition of Fairfield School, for which staff is seeking an abatement estimate. Potential funding sources discussed included approximately $1.1–1.2 million in recreation and open-space impact fees, future capital and TIF allocations, a possible Land and Water Conservation Fund grant of up to $1 million with a 50% match and long-term use restrictions, private donations or naming rights, and a bond. No plan or funding approach was approved. Staff said a council decision on a preferred plan would allow it to begin an engineering RFP and develop more precise costs; officials plan to return after gathering demolition-cost information, surveying public input, and further investigating cemetery boundaries. The discussion also covered which features could be deferred or scaled back and the park’s estimated ongoing staffing and maintenance needs.

The council separately approved, by 6–0 votes, appointments to the Lucia Kimball Deering Trust Board and renewals of special entertainment permits for the Biddeford-Saco Elks Lodge and Island Brewing LLC, doing business as Run of the Mill. These actions did not involve contract awards or purchasing decisions. The administrator also reported scheduled street and parking-lot paving, but no related procurement or spending vote was presented.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 05, 2026

### Sources
- [Saco City Council Meeting - October 5, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrR_oeZdICY) - City of Saco