Prospect council advances budget ordinance and approves funds to study master development plan

PROSPECT — The Prospect City Council at a special meeting on Aug. 13 gave first reading to Ordinance 655, Series 2025, to amend the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved Resolution 6, Series 2025, to appropriate capital-project funds to research a possible public–private partnership and to develop a master plan for vacant land west of the firehouse.

Council members voted to advance the ordinance in a roll-call vote and approved the resolution by voice vote. The resolution authorizes using capital-project funds to research and potentially enter into a public–private partnership to produce a citywide master development plan and to conduct related strategic planning work.

The issue prompted sustained public comment and four presentations from the city’s Architectural Review Committee. Robert Jacob, chair of the committee, told the council the group reviewed decades of past studies and “we are now at a crossroads” and that the city should fund strategic planning work. Jacob said the funding request was “approaching around a half a million dollars” to hire consultants and complete strategic planning and implementation work.

Architect and committee member Herb Schuleffer and former city commissioner and committee member Sarah Hines also urged the council to authorize professional planning work. Hines said a master plan would provide an intentional, long-term framework for walkability, parks and commercial choices. The committee reported unanimous support for moving forward.

During deliberations, a council member asked how the city would pay for the work. City staff explained the money would come from accumulated surplus (sometimes called cumulative surplus) rather than the $1.2 million reserve set aside for a state pension shortfall. The council amended the resolution language to direct the mayor/administration (instead of staff broadly) and to require monthly updates rather than “periodic” reports; the amended version was approved.

Council discussion also touched on strategic options should the city pursue annexation of the Highway 42 property and possible use of tax-increment financing to influence development and capture new tax revenue. A council member said annexation would allow the city greater influence over project scope and enable financing tools; the council did not adopt any annexation action at the meeting.

Motions and votes recorded in the meeting: the ordinance (Ordinance 655, Series 2025) received a motion from Mister Holmes and a second from Mister Clark; the first reading passed on roll call. The resolution (Resolution 6, Series 2025) was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote, recorded as approved by a 6–0 vote.

The council indicated it will consider the ordinance again at its next regular meeting and proceed with contracting and consultant selection if the final ordinance and appropriation move forward. Staff and committee members said the effort aims to shape development on the property just west of the firehouse and to provide a long-range vision for Prospect.

No final annexation, TIF formation or contract awards were approved at the meeting; those actions would require separate council votes.