Troy City Council to pursue public engagement on proposed 20-year capital bond; focuses on projects above ‘green line’

Troy City Council on Feb. 24 discussed a proposed 20-year capital bond to fund libraries, streets, parks, public safety and other long-term projects and directed staff to begin public education and engagement focused on projects above the council’s so-called "green line." The council did not adopt bond language or place any item on the ballot during the special meeting; staff noted a ballot-language deadline in August if council later decides to proceed for the Nov. ballot.

The discussion followed public comments urging care in how capital projects are grouped and communicated. Alex Kapokovich, a resident, praised council’s work on the library and asked for a clear, publicly accessible capital-project roadmap: "I would like to see the capital projects go through the same rigor and diligence that the library project went through." Janice Girling, a resident, said she worries the packet’s presentation of other cities’ bond passage rates could be used to "ram" a broad package to voters and urged separating high-profile items: "If you put the library all by itself, let people vote on that." April Church, president of the Friends of the Troy Public Library, said the group will "support any bond proposal that includes the replacement of the library, provided that what is ultimately approved is commensurate with what the…