City leaders said the capital improvement plan (CIP) for FY26 reflects tightened local borrowing capacity and a deliberate strategy to pursue external funding for large projects.

Why this matters: The CIP sets a multiyear investment plan for buildings, parks, public markets and civic venues. Councilors and administration staff emphasized that federal and state grants will be essential to move large projects forward and cited the convention center award as a recent example.

Key developments

- Convention Center modernization: Executive Director Jim Brown reported that the State has committed roughly $60 million for a full modernization of the Main Street Convention Center. Brown said the funds will cover “soup to nuts” infrastructural upgrades — HVAC, finishes, lighting, and furniture — and will relieve the city of what otherwise would be a large capital burden. Councilors and staff said the announcement follows multi‑year local advocacy.

- Blue Cross Arena and operator change: The War Memorial/Blue Cross Arena recently contracted with a new operator (VenueWorks). VenueWorks’ local director, Colin Holman, told councilors the company is scheduling events, working through union and contractual details with the Americans and with the Amherst hockey franchise, and planning arena repairs and programming to increase bookings. The arena also appears in the CIP for targeted capital upgrades; administration staff said the operator will contribute and that some capital investment was already planned in the CIP.

- Rundle Center exterior restoration and elevators: DES Capital Manager Bridal Harrison said exterior masonry and parapet restoration work is beyond the halfway point and an elevator replacement project for Rundle’s main public lift is budgeted (debt authorization of $1 million and cash capital for design). A ventilation/air‑exchange project is being rebid after initial bids came in over budget.

- Public Market and Parks: The Public Market modernization concept is shovel‑ready in design but currently unfunded in the CIP; staff urged pursuing state and private funding to move the market work into construction. Parks and playground funding remain prioritized where grant matches or partnerships are available.

Budget context and approach

Mayor Evans and administration staff said the city had to “pair back” some CIP projects because local borrowing capacity and cash capital were constrained. The administration’s strategy is to prioritize “must‑do” maintenance and to aggressively pursue state/federal grants or private partnerships for large builds. The convention center award and other outside capital illustrate the approach: where the state or a responsible private party will fund projects, the city can proceed without large local debt increases.

Council questions and direction

- Council members asked for written breakdowns of the convention‑center package, Blue Cross Arena subsidy projections, and which capital investments will be undertaken by the operator versus the city. The administration offered to supply detailed cost allocations and a work session on planned capital and operator commitments.

- Several councilors urged the administration to include more explicit timelines and milestones in CIP line items so the public can track progress.

Ending note: The CIP will continue to rely heavily on non‑local funding sources for major projects. Councilors asked staff for clearer, shovel‑ready timelines and to bring specific contract and grant documents back for review as projects move from design to construction.