Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council unanimously approves interim reallocations to buy boarding bridges and fund phosphorus plan
Summary
Council approved two interim budget changes: the airport will reprioritize capital funds to pursue passenger boarding bridges and access a $9 million FAA grant; Public Works will reallocate $425,000 in the water renewal fund to develop a phosphorus removal optimization plan tied to Idaho DEQ permit obligations.
The Boise City Council approved two interim budget changes the staff said are budget-neutral reallocations of existing capital funds: airport capital projects would be reprioritized to purchase passenger boarding bridges, and the water renewal fund would shift money to a phosphorus removal planning study.
Alicia (staff presenter) told the council the airport requested a reallocation of existing capital funds to prioritize the purchase of passenger boarding bridges. Staff said the reallocation would position the airport to pursue a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant of $9,000,000 that closes in July 2025 and would help the airport meet operational needs connected to the planned Concourse A expansion (targeted completion: 2029). Presented line items included $15,500,000 from runway incursion mitigation projects that are temporarily delayed, $4,200,000 from major equipment surpluses, $2,000,000 from airport sustainability projects and $500,000 from completed parking facility projects; staff described the change as a reprioritization rather than a net increase in the capital program.
The council also approved a budget-neutral reallocation of $425,000 within the water renewal fund to support development of a phosphorus removal optimization plan ("PROP"). Staff said the plan will analyze phosphorus loads at the city's three Boise River treatment facilities, assess water-quality responses, identify early-action phosphorus reduction projects and recommend small-scale, cost-effective upgrades to meet phosphorus milestones under Boise's integrated plan and the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) permit on a 10-year compliance schedule. The $425,000 was reported as reallocated from the recycled water facility project, which staff said remains in design and will not need its full construction budget this fiscal year.
Council members voted to approve the two interim budget changes without objection. During discussion, one council member requested a broader briefing from Public Works on the status of water renewal funds and projects. Another council member praised airport staff for using airport-generated revenues rather than property tax dollars to fund airport capital needs.
Votes and next steps: staff said the airport will pursue the FAA grant application; the water renewal funds will be used to complete the phosphorus optimization plan and staff will return with related project details and timelines as work progresses.
