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Assembly asks staff to seek alternative funding for grader purchase to take over Fish Creek Road maintenance
Summary
Committee members discussed a $423,000 capital request tied to taking over maintenance of Fish Creek Road. Staff explained fleet reserve rules and recommended finding alternative CIP funding rather than borrowing from fleet reserves; the committee moved the item to the pending list while asking staff to identify other sources.
Finance committee members on May 7 discussed the capital request (about $423,000) tied to taking over maintenance of Fish Creek Road and whether the purchase could be funded from the fleet reserve or other sources.
Public works and finance staff explained that fleet reserve funds are sinking funds: departments contribute to replace equipment on a defined schedule, and those dollars are tracked by department and equipment. Finance director and staff said the fleet reserve is not designed to be used as an interim loan unless the body is willing to forego replacing other planned equipment.
Deputy Mayor Smith and other members said they wanted to protect the general fund and suggested using the fleet reserve and then having other fund sources (Eagle Crest, DOT contributions) repay the reserve over time. Staff replied that using the fleet reserve would mean deferring other replacements and that a better approach would be identifying an existing CIP project or other one‑time funding to cover the grader purchase. Manager Kester said staff could look at CIP cushions and come back with options.
Committee members also heard that Eagle Crest and ADOT currently contribute to Fish Creek Road maintenance (Eagle Crest had paid $50k–$90k in prior years to increase priority; DOT contributed $40k; the transcript cited a mix of contributions). Staff said the grader purchase would be recouped over time through maintenance contracts and reassignment of resources but requires a near‑term capital outlay.
Mayor Weldon moved item 3 to the pending list with a direction to staff to find an alternative funding source; the committee approved that motion by unanimous consent. Staff said they will analyze CIP projects and replacement schedules and return with funding options.
