Calimesa reviews $80 million five-year capital plan; major flood, interchange and street projects rely on external grants

Calimesa City Council members and staff on Monday reviewed the draft fiscal year 2025–26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a five‑year program that staff said totals just over $80 million and relies heavily on outside grants and carryover funds.

City Manager Cobo opened the presentation, saying the CIP is “presented on a 5 year planning horizon” and emphasizing that only the 2025–26 amounts will be appropriated; future years are planning estimates. He told the council the plan includes 22 active or carryover projects and that much of the spending is restricted by grant or fee conditions rather than discretionary general‑fund choices.

Why it matters: staff told the council the largest single new budget line for 2025–26 is storm‑drain and flood work for the Kalamazoo Creek project, with the City relying on Riverside County Flood Control District funding and other intergovernmental grants. Staff and the finance director warned the council that adding all proposed one‑time items would reduce general‑fund reserves significantly, and recommended prioritizing projects and pursuing grant matches rather than drawing down reserves.

Most of the presentation reviewed individual projects and funding sources. Public Works Director Madi Shakir described smaller parks and facilities requests, including irrigation controller upgrades at Fourth Street Park (part of Mountain View Park Phase 2), ADA sidewalk work at the new library site and a yard steel structure for Public Works equipment. "This program is really helpful in making sure that we are keeping our water sustainability efforts going," Shakir said of a proposed…