Planning commission recommends draft FY2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program to city council

The Bel Air Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and unanimously recommended the city’s draft Fiscal Year 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at its June 12 meeting and agreed to forward the commission’s report to city council.

Megan Campbell, city staff, presented highlights from the CIP, which covers drainage and streets, parks and facilities, and utilities. Campbell told the commission the regional drainage program will be the umbrella for bond projects approved last November and that staff has not yet programmed all bond expenditures by year because grant awards and design schedules are still pending. “Right now, we have not programmed those out into future years because we're still working on the exact years they will fall in and what will be implemented at which time,” Campbell said.

The draft lists near‑term work that includes design funding for the Cypress project, a pavement condition analysis funded through the Houston‑Galveston Area Council, traffic signal equipment upgrades and signal timing revisions, and parks accessibility projects funded by a congressional appropriation intended for an accessible playground at Evergreen. Campbell said some routine maintenance such as pavement patching has been moved to the base budget and is not listed in the CIP.

On utilities, Campbell described ongoing investments in lift station generators, SCADA (remote automation and monitoring) expansion, well automation and rehabilitation, water‑line prioritization tied to a roughly $2.8 million congressional appropriation requiring local match, and interim repairs to the existing wastewater treatment plant while the city moves to connect to the Houston system. Campbell said the Bel Air lift station will be replaced and a force main constructed to tie the city into Houston’s wastewater conveyance; design is slated to begin next year with construction funds programmed in 2027.

Commissioners discussed timing and grant uncertainty; Campbell said some grant awards are expected this summer while other federal programs have open timelines. After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the commission’s recommendation of the CIP as described in staff materials; a second followed and the commission approved the recommendation by voice vote. The commission’s signed recommendation memo will be forwarded to city council for consideration during the budget process.