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Council directs $400,000 in 2026 capital adjustments for sidewalks, traffic calming and walk plan; approves door replacements and reduces ash borer grant
Summary
Council agreed on a package of 2026 capital adjustments including sidewalk gap construction, neighborhood traffic calming, and initial funding for the Walk & Wheel plan; staff identified funding for two facility door replacements and members directed reducing an emerald ash borer resident grant line to $10,000.
The Englewood City Council directed staff to incorporate several targeted changes into the 2026 capital budget, prioritizing sidewalk gap repairs, neighborhood traffic calming, and initial implementation of the Walk & Wheel plan while identifying non‑general funds to cover two facility door replacements.
Director of Finance Kevin Ingalls presented options for allocating roughly $400,000 of available capital funds identified in recent budget work. Council discussion narrowed the priorities to sidewalk gap construction, additional neighborhood traffic calming funds to support HAWK signals and residential calming devices, and a modest allotment for beginning work on the Walk & Wheel plan.
Victor Richel, director of public works, told council an additional $50,000 targeted to neighborhood traffic calming would, together with existing programmed funds, cover a HAWK signal at Oxford and Broadway and leave approximately $200,000 to implement other calming devices in residential streets. Richel said staff had reallocated internal resources to add transportation and traffic engineering capacity to begin those projects in 2026.
Council also agreed that 1 of two planned door replacements — the Malley Center and the Englewood Recreation Center doors — could be funded from Conservation Trust Fund dollars and capital reserves; the Malley Trust Fund will be asked about contributing to the Malley Center door replacement but staff said any Malley Trust decision would occur after final budget readings. Members asked staff to pursue Malley Trust funding as an option to reduce drawdown on capital reserves.
After discussion, members directed lowering the amount allocated for a resident emerald ash borer grant program from $50,000 to $10,000, with staff noting Parks had historically provided a smaller program and could absorb some costs in the general fund if needed. Director of Parks confirmed the city had a regular two‑year treatment schedule for ash borer for city trees and a small resident grant program for private trees; council asked staff to return details about program mechanics and anticipated demand.
Councilmembers emphasized that the city is projecting a planned deficit and urged fiscal caution, but a majority supported moving forward with the three capital program priorities. Staff said all items directed tonight are funded from capital project reserves or specific trust fund sources and would not require drawing further on the city’s general‑fund reserve policy.
No formal ordinance vote was recorded for the budget items in this session; council gave staff direction to include the adjustments in the final 2026 budget package and to present any fund‑source changes and schedule details at the next readings.
