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Council reviews draft 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan with $8M community center, utility upgrades and multiple parks projects
Summary
City staff presented the draft 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan, highlighting an $8 million community center, phased water-treatment scrubber upgrades, new electric feeder work to support growth and a police evidence processing facility in early planning.
Milford staff presented a draft 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan at a council workshop, summarizing proposed projects across public works, water and sewer, electric, parks and recreation and public safety and asking council for prioritization and feedback ahead of the upcoming budget cycle.
Finance Director Lou Vitola walked council through the CIP structure and cautioned that many funding lines are staff recommendations and contingent on awarded grants. He emphasized that the program shows anticipated funding sources but that only awarded grants and previously authorized projects are guaranteed.
Key projects highlighted by department directors: - Parks and recreation: an $8 million community center scheduled in 2028 accounted for a large portion of the parks line; gateways and downtown streetscape projects already have design approvals and some CIP funding; a downtown restroom project may now be eligible for federal funds. - Water and sewer: phased upgrades to scrubbers and gas-chlorine controls at treatment plants (Kenton, Tenth Street and others) were proposed; staff said the changes would lower chemical costs and improve disinfection. Automatic flushers for dead-end water lines and odor-control/carbon-filter replacements were also on the list. - Public works: annual paving and ADA improvements, stormwater and culvert repairs (including the Wilbur Pines and Sixth/Northwest Fourth street drainage projects), equipment for public events and snow removal, and an expanded public works shop/storage facility. - Electric: new 25 kV feeder circuits and distribution work intended to support growth in the corporate center, pole inspections, regulator refurbishment, and a parade-lighting upgrade for Walnut Street (grant-funded portion anticipated). - Public safety and facilities: the police department asked for a dedicated evidence processing bay and storage building (previously scoped and re-priced; current estimate cited in discussion approx. $2.4 million), facility improvements and vehicle/equipment needs. Body-worn camera program costs over a multi-year contract also appeared in the CIP.
Council questions and staff responses Council members asked for greater line-item clarity and the payback analysis on water-treatment upgrades; Public Works and Finance staff said some line items are consolidations of annual allowances and that staff will re-break and clarify sheets for council review. Several council members urged grouping the water-treatment scrubber upgrades together rather than spacing them across years because of the short payback period.
Budget and process notes Staff asked council to provide written feedback by May (staff requested a deadline in May) so the CIP can be finalized with the operating budget. Finance said awarded grants and previously authorized projects are the only committed funds and that many line-item funding assumptions are staff recommendations pending future budgets and grant awards.
Ending note: Department directors said some items could be moved earlier or later if council priorities change; staff said the CIP will be revisited during budget deliberations and that a citizen satisfaction survey presentation is scheduled in mid-May to help prioritize projects.
