Staff presented a high-level update on the Community Vitality budget and the commission’s capital priorities. The presentation said the department submitted its requests to the executive budget team and that city council will review recommended budgets in late August and adopt a final budget in October.

Key points from the presentation:
- Staff said the operating budget for Community Vitality will show a decrease largely because the parking enforcement program is being administratively moved from Community Vitality to Planning and Development Services (a departmental reorganization). The staff presenter said this change represents an inter-departmental move of program costs rather than an overall general fund reduction.
- The capital program shows a substantial increase from 2025 to 2026 driven by planned garage investments and other district projects. Staff said the multi-year capital program includes roughly $25 million for CM/GC garage projects over the next several years and a proposed $3 million package for Pearl Street Mall improvements next year (staff said that amount would be composed of a $2 million contribution from the commission’s capital fund and $1 million from the Community Culture Resiliency and Safety tax, CCRS).
- Staff said a proposed sale of a downtown surface lot (referred to in the presentation) is under negotiation; if completed, proceeds would remain in the commission’s capital fund (staff characterized the proceeds as staying within the commission’s capital account).

Why it matters: The budget realignment and capital commitments shape the commission’s ability to fund repairs, wayfinding, mobility-hub studies and public-art investments. Staff asked commissioners to be prepared to offer recommendations to city council during the fall budget hearings.

No formal vote was taken; staff flagged upcoming key dates including an executive budget-team review next week, an August 29 city-council review and final city-council adoption on Oct. 23.