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Planning Commission hears $764.5 million proposed capital improvement program; recommendation to council expected later
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Summary
Capital Budget Manager Rudy Pena and budget staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program, a $764,541,650 plan that emphasizes water and wastewater projects and is funded largely by revenue bonds, a $210 million SWIFT loan and general obligation bonds.
City budget staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program to the City Planning Commission, detailing major projects, department allocations and funding sources but asking no formal action at this meeting.
Rudy Pena, capital budget manager, joined by Amy Kelly and John Juarez from the Office of Management and Budget and Camille Terrace, assistant director, summarized the CIP and distributed copies of the full proposed budget. Pena said the total proposed CIP is $764,541,650 and noted that water and wastewater combined represent about 65% of the total; when streets are added, those three areas account for roughly 75% of the program.
Key funding sources described include revenue bonds (about 40.5% of the program), a $210 million State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) loan specifically supporting the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus, and general obligation bonds (about 13.3%). Staff said grants, operating funds (PAYGO), certificates of obligation and other sources make up the remainder.
Highlighted projects and departmental programs included airport parking and terminal work, convention center and cultural facility HVAC and rehabilitation, North Padre Island seawall and Packery Channel repairs, park improvements and marina pier replacement, City Hall parking improvements and detention center renovations, construction of new fire stations and police substations, residential street rebuilds and arterials from prior bond packages, gas system upgrades and underground storage, stormwater pipe inspection and repair, wastewater treatment plant repairs and lift‑station work, and the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus and Mary Rose pipeline work in the water program.
Staff emphasized this was a presentation and that the planning commission would be asked to recommend adoption to City Council at the commission's Aug. 20 meeting. Camille Terrace explained the commission's recommendation would reflect the plan as presented; if City Council later removed or cancelled a project, staff would update the plan accordingly. The item is scheduled for City Council first reading on Sept. 2 and second reading on Sept. 9.
Commissioners asked for details on sidewalks and ADA curb transitions (staff said ADA curb transitions are included under the stormwater CIP but no dedicated sidewalk program was noted), operational funding for the recently completed Bill Witt pool (Amy Kelly said the pool is funded for a partial year of operation under FY25 decisions), and clarifications on PAYGO funding. Staff offered contact information and encouraged commissioners to submit detailed questions before the Aug. 20 meeting to allow staff to prepare more targeted answers.
No action was requested at the meeting; staff provided physical copies of the proposed CIP at public libraries and the city secretary's office and said the document is available on the city's website.
