Director of Public Works Eric Galt presented the results of a citywide pavement assessment and a preliminary five‑year program, telling the City Council the city’s average network pavement condition index (PCI) is 64. Galt said the study identifies concentrated pockets of very poor and poor pavement — mostly older asphalt sections in the east and northeast — and recommended a mix of contractor reconstruction and more frequent in‑house asphalt repairs.

The report lays out funding scenarios: a very aggressive program that would bring the network to “very good to excellent” would cost roughly $231 million over five years, while a year‑to‑year backlog‑control approach narrows work to the worst streets. Galt warned the precise targets depend on how much the council is willing to commit annually and noted the Real Texas Roads bond has been carrying a large share of residential work in recent years. “Our average network PCI was 64,” Galt said. “Again, this book is in the appendices and fairly easy to follow.”

Why it matters: residents consistently put streets and alleys at or near the top of priorities in city surveys, and multiple council members said they want a clear, funded plan rather than ad‑hoc patching. Councilman Burrows asked whether crews were spending more on repeated patches than on permanent repairs: “When do we say enough is enough? And let’s stop patching and let’s fix the street,” he said. Public comments and council discussion focused on whether the city should prioritize a “worst‑first” approach, concentrate on high‑volume neighborhood collectors, or continue a neighborhood‑block strategy to get the most impact for each mobilization.

Supporting details: Galt said some current programs already target neighborhoods, and noted a backlog metric in the report that put Mesquite slightly above the average backlog percentage cited by the consultant. The presentation included maps highlighting red pockets of very poor and poor pavement and an alley plan that raised the possibility of removing or abandoning long, low‑use alleys from the city’s roadway network to reduce maintenance obligations.

Council reaction and options: Several members urged increasing the recurring annual investment for local streets. The city manager and other staff said the city budget currently includes a mix of bond and general fund resources and that the Real Texas Roads program has contributed roughly $8 million per year; staff suggested a target of roughly $8–10 million per year just to stabilize residential pavement conditions, with higher levels needed to reduce the backlog. Councilman Green and others said the choice will require tradeoffs or new revenue: “If roads are your top priority, are you willing to set a tax rate that provides us the funds that address that?” the city manager asked.

Implementation and next steps: Staff will use the council feedback to refine a five‑year program (prioritizing collector access routes and the worst pockets), align the street plan with utility master planning to avoid premature reconstruction, and return during the budget process with specific annual funding requests and project lists. Staff also said they will continue to review alley policy (abandon, maintain minimum access, or actively rehabilitate) and explore additional grant opportunities for corridors and safety projects. No formal decisions were made at the workshop; the council directed staff to bring refined cost and funding options into the budget process.

Ending note: The presentation underscored a recurring council theme: citizens want visible progress on streets and alleys, and staff said the scale of need requires a sustained, multi‑year commitment coupled with careful prioritization and coordination with utility work.