Council approves design contract for Fire Station 6, issues debt notice and adopts thoroughfare tweak; Lakeside East tabled

Fire Station 6 design contract approved

The council unanimously approved a professional services agreement with Martinez Architects for programming, design and construction administration of Fire Station 6. The contract amount is $1,080,000 and the project will sit on a 6.6‑acre site at 6801 Canyon Falls Drive, with construction to be delivered under a construction manager at‑risk (CMAR) project delivery model. Brian Waltenberg, public works director, told council the town budgeted $20 million for the station. The project schedule anticipates design beginning in spring 2025 with completion in summer 2027.

Certificates of Obligation: notice authorized

Council voted to publish a notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation (COs) for an amount not to exceed $19,200,000. Staff identified proposed uses as approximately $5,000,000 for fire facilities, $6,100,000 for a portion of utility projects, $2,000,000 for water projects and about $7,800,000 for wastewater projects (funding allocations were described during the presentation). Staff said the sale would be advertised, returned for formal sale approval in June and the town’s financial advisor and municipal bond representative were available to answer market questions.

Thoroughfare plan amendment passed

Council approved a map amendment that reclassifies two short segments of planned roadway from the Lakeside “mixed‑use arterial” cross section into an “urban minor arterial.” The change reduces the right‑of‑way width by 10 feet and eliminates on‑street parking for the two small segments while retaining a four‑lane divided roadway section and a planned six‑foot sidewalk. Staff said the reclassification reflects the built and proposed context for those short segments, which narrow into a roundabout at one end.

Lakeside East tabled

After extended public hearing and debate on the Lakeside East master plan amendment and mixed‑use rezoning, council voted to table the Lakeside East items at the applicant’s request to a date the applicant selects (the applicant indicated April 21 as the next possible return date). Planning & Zoning had previously voted 4–2 to recommend denial and the item drew lengthy testimony both for and against the change.

Votes and roll calls (summary)

- K1 — PSA: Fire Station 6 (Martinez Architects) — motion passed unanimously. Vote recorded: Councilmember Warner — Aye; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Schiesel — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Martin — Aye; Councilmember Drew — Aye; Councilmember Taylor — Aye.

- K2 — Notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation (up to $19,200,000) — motion passed unanimously. Vote recorded: Councilmember Warner — Aye; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Schiesel — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Martin — Aye; Councilmember Drew — Aye; Councilmember Taylor — Aye.

- K3 — First Ranch thoroughfare plan amendment (urban minor arterial change for two short segments) — passed unanimously. Vote recorded: Councilmember Taylor — Aye; Councilmember Drew — Aye; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Schiesel — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Martin — Aye; Councilmember Warner — Aye.

- K4 & K5 — Lakeside East master plan amendment and mixed‑use rezoning — tabled at the applicant’s request to a date requested by the applicant (applicant indicated April 21). Motion to table passed unanimously. Vote recorded: Councilmember Taylor — Aye; Councilmember Drew — Aye; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Schiesel — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Martin — Aye; Councilmember Warner — Aye.

Other items of note

- Staff recognized the town wastewater treatment plant for a state award; council heard a facilities presentation and thanked plant staff for their operations and safety record.

Why it matters: The council advanced capital planning by approving station design services and authorizing a debt notice while tabling a contentious mixed‑use amendment that drew broad public comment. The thoroughfare map change will alter design expectations for two short road segments near the Lakeside corridor.