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Manager outlines water/sewer capital plan, meter rollout and park projects in FY26 budget preview
Summary
Staff reviewed water/wastewater capital needs including headworks and electrical upgrades at treatment plants, meter installation revenue effects, and a multi‑year parks master plan with playground, monument sign and sidewalk projects; staff said federal and state funding will be sought and that borrowing may be needed in FY27.
City staff presented an overview of planned capital projects for utilities and parks during the FY26 budget workshop, including wastewater headworks, plant electrical upgrades, continued water meter roll‑out revenue effects, and a multi‑year parks master plan with playground replacements and monument signs.
On utilities, staff said the city has applied for federal funding for a headworks project (staff noted a $7 million federal appropriation request previously submitted) and plans to pursue additional federal/state resilience funds for an electrical upgrade at one of the treatment facilities. The City Manager described a multi‑year program to begin design work and said the city had funding to begin design and headworks work; staff estimated roughly $21 million in major utility projects and said about half of project cost is expected to be covered by outside funding, with some borrowing anticipated in FY27 when large construction work accelerates.
Staff also presented recent meter‑installation results, reporting the city is approximately two‑thirds through its new meter roll‑out and has seen substantial month‑over‑month revenue increases compared with the prior year as previously lost consumption comes onto the billing system. The manager said the meter program will be complete by the end of the summer and that the higher baseline will reduce future one‑time revenue increases as the system stabilizes.
On parks and beautification, staff summarized a proposed $3.6 million FY26 program that would fund playground replacements (targeting two playgrounds per year over five years to reach 10 replacements), monument signage design and construction and sidewalk rehabilitation. Staff requested direction on priorities and said monument sign locations will be brought forward for selection and that design and surveying work would precede construction.
No formal funding commitments were made at the workshop; staff will return to the commission with project prioritization, funding scenarios and timing, and will continue to pursue federal and state grant sources and a credit‑rating process to support potential borrowing.
