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Council reviews capital projects list; staff seeks grants, assessment districts to limit general fund impact
Summary
Staff outlined planned capital projects including a public parking lot, pavement rehabilitation, Frank Sinatra low water crossing, Via Vale utility work tied to affordable housing, and potential grant applications for fiber and interconnect work; several projects will rely on special revenue and grant funding to avoid general fund strain.
Assistant City Manager Ryan presented the city’s two‑year capital program and told the council staff’s guiding principle was minimizing general fund impact by using special revenue or developer impact fees where allowable.
Ryan cited several projects either planned or under development: a public parking lot near Rancho Mirage Community Park (estimated $3 million, funding from multiple sources), an annual pavement rehabilitation program (about $2 million, supported by gas tax and Measure A), ongoing design work on the Frank Sinatra low‑water crossing (hydrology work with Coachella Valley Water District), a near‑bid roadside improvement combining Bob Hope and Ramon intersection work (roughly $800,000 with $700,000 in grant funding), and Via Vale roadway and sewer/water construction tied to opening affordable housing parcels (estimated $5 million; staff pursuing congressional funding requests).
Ryan said three projects — Interconnect Phase 2 (signal synchronization and fiber undergrounding), Vista Del Sol roadway construction, and the Via Vale utilities work — were discussed but not included in the budget because funding has not yet been secured. He said staff expects to submit a grant application for fiber undergrounding the week after the meeting and is exploring assessment districts and grant sources to finance larger projects.
The council asked clarifying questions about funding sources and confirmed a preference for limiting general fund contributions where possible. Staff emphasized that special revenue funds can be used to advance projects but are not replenished quickly, so the approach is not a permanent funding solution.
