City planning and parks staff presented a trimmed five‑year capital improvement plan that focuses on FY2026 projects with confirmed funds and removes or reprioritizes roughly $40 million in previously proposed capital spending.

Presenters said the FY2026 CIP emphasizes maintenance and high‑priority projects that match funding availability. Projects listed for FY2026 include beach restroom renovations and a beach hut replacement, stormwater and sewage rehabilitation projects, citywide playground and median improvements, elevator replacements, Pioneer Grove (downtown corridor) planning, and several utility plant upgrades (including a change in approach for PFAS treatment from ion exchange to nanofiltration). Staff emphasized that the FY2026 list represents projects for which funding is available; future grant awards or other revenue would be brought before the commission for acceptance and amendment of the CIP.

Parks and recreation presented its special‑events portfolio and estimated the department spends about $1,000,000 annually running roughly 30 events. Staff said Juneteenth attendance roughly doubled in the most recent event (about 475 in the prior year vs about 1,000 this year) but that the FY2026 proposed line for Juneteenth sits at about $50,000. Multiple commissioners and public commenters urged allocating more money for Juneteenth and other cultural events and suggested exploring sponsorships, vendors and private partnerships to offset costs; other residents advocated for more district‑level projects (sidewalks, neighborhood safety and fire station upgrades).

Several residents raised district‑specific capital needs during the meeting: sidewalks on Northwest Eighteenth Avenue and accessibility improvements near Meadows at Crystal Lake. Commissioners asked staff to track those requests and report back.

Why it matters: the CIP frames capital investments for years to come; matching specific projects to committed funding reduces fiscal risk but also requires choices about what to delay or drop. Parks and events choices draw frequent public attention because they shape community identity and tourism.

Ending: staff said the commission will continue refining the FY2026 CIP and event priorities as part of the formal budget hearings and asked commissioners to bring district priorities to staff for incorporation or evaluation in follow‑up reports.