City Manager Fearborn reviewed the capital section of the proposed FY26 budget on Monday and highlighted multiple projects across transportation, parks, building replacement and utilities that staff say are needed in the coming year.

The nut graf — why this matters: capital spending funds repairs and improvements that affect public safety, mobility and daily life: street preservation, curb replacement and sidewalk ADA work determine driving and walking conditions; City Hall and park projects affect public access and maintenance costs.

Transportation and streets: staff proposed ongoing programs — annual curb replacement ($674,000), annual street preservation ($1,098,000), right‑of‑way infrastructure repairs ($159,000) and a sidewalk replacement program ($328,600). Discrete projects include an additional left‑turn signal at North Cass Parkway/Dean Avenue ($40,000), North Madison Street reconstruction (Madison Creek North to 150th Street; amount shown in the capital program), and a $500,000 Dean Avenue curb replacement project (about 7,500 linear feet). Fearborn said the city will produce project prioritization in spring based on a grading system and flagged recurring issues on Lucy Webb and Town Center sidewalks and retaining walls; staff are conducting a GIS survey to determine ownership and responsibility for retaining walls.

Building and parks: the building and equipment replacement fund includes a $10,000 projector replacement, $65,000 IT security upgrades (cameras, gunshot detection sensors, panic buttons, software upgrades), and a City Hall parking renovation that would replace asphalt with concrete plus landscaping and a speed table at the main entrance. The park sales‑tax fund includes ongoing trails maintenance ($150,000), park signage replacement ($130,000) and initial costs for TB Hanna expansion (acquisition/demolition/design and hazardous tree removal; $164,000).

Equipment and efficiency: staff recommended three pieces of equipment be purchased via the VERP to reduce contracted work — a 144‑inch finish mower (parks), an asphalt roller and a pothole patcher (streets). Fearborn said the mower would reduce mowing from three staff working two days to one person in about six hours on a given field, improving efficiency and potentially saving labor costs.

Ending: projects will be reviewed and prioritized at future work sessions; council members asked clarifying questions about sidewalk retaining‑wall ownership and material life for curb/sidewalk aggregates. No capital project approvals or bond measures occurred at the work session.