City staff presented the city’s 10-year capital improvement plan (CIP) and related opportunities during the Sept. 8 workshop, telling the commission the plan lists roughly $1.5 billion in total project requests with nearly $493 million unfunded. Staff also provided a cost update on the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and described a potential market opportunity to acquire an existing school facility for use as an east-side community center.

The CIP summary shows total project requests of approximately $1.5 billion, appropriations noted at about $270 million and funded project totals near $720 million—leaving an estimated $493 million of unfunded needs. Staff emphasized inflation and construction escalation as key risks and said continued delay on capital projects can increase long-term costs. The commission discussed prioritization, revenue options and the importance of economic development to expand the tax base and fund capital needs.

Emergency Operations Center: Staff said design and permitting are complete and the latest guaranteed maximum price (GMP) returned last week is lower than earlier estimates. The original unfunded gap of roughly $5.0 million was reduced; total adopted budget and updated costs put an immediate shortfall at approximately $2.585 million to complete the building and its systems. Staff offered a staged option: build the hardened structure now (estimated $1.685 million shortfall) and delay FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) procurement to a later phase. Staff said the city aims to mobilize construction in December 2025 and target occupancy as early as April 2027 if funding is available.

Imagine School facility: Parks staff identified an existing sport-facility building marketed by Imagine School with an initial asking price near $6 million. City staff noted the facility is roughly 16,000 square feet on nearly two acres and includes indoor space that could serve as a community center; staff contrasted the $6 million purchase opportunity with the $15 million estimated cost to build a comparable new east-side recreation center. Commissioners asked staff to keep both acquisition and new-build options on the table while they monitor overall budget and state-level fiscal developments that could affect local revenue.

Commissioners repeatedly raised concern about statewide fiscal proposals and their potential impact on local revenues next year. Staff noted that some surtax or referendum revenues are already allocated and that general fund capacity to absorb new capital without new revenue sources is limited. Staff will bring more detailed financial scenarios for CIP prioritization and will return with options for EOC funding and for pursuing the Imagine School acquisition.

Ending: Staff will provide additional CIP-level prioritization scenarios and a recommended approach to close the EOC funding gap, and will report back with a decision paper if the Imagine School property purchase moves forward.