Council and administration discuss capital needs for City Hall and seek budget deadline extension

Council members on Wednesday used a wide‑ranging pre‑meeting discussion to press the administration for a comprehensive capital improvement plan for City Hall, police precincts and other municipal facilities.

“Where is all the capital dollars that came to the city and where has it gone?” Councilman Quintana asked, noting long‑standing problems at City Hall including elevators and a netted scaffolding condition on upper floors. Council members repeatedly urged a full assessment of building conditions, estimated costs and prioritization ahead of the municipal budget process.

Assistant/acting finance director Benjamin Guzman told the council the administration is “working diligently” on the 2025 budget and explained a resolution on the agenda to extend the introduction date. “Statutorily, we are required to introduce that budget on or before March 30,” Guzman said, and added that the state allows a one‑month extension to April 30, which the resolution seeks to request.

Officials described a two‑track approach: immediate life‑safety and health fixes (for example, exhaust systems in firehouses, elevator safety) and a longer capital plan requiring engineering assessments, cost estimates and funding decisions. Chief of staff Melvin Waldrop and other administrators said assessments are in progress and that Project Phoenix for firehouses has been a template for grouping capital needs; they said similar grouping and assessment will be used for other facilities.

Guzman outlined bond and financing items on the agenda — including plans to refund outstanding 2015 bonds (up to $31 million, with an expected savings of about $1.1 million) and bond anticipation notes related to a prior $20 million loan to the North Housing Authority — and said the budget extension resolution is meant to preserve statutory compliance while the administration finalizes details.

Council members asked that the administration provide the council with written schedules and a rolling capital improvement list showing assessments, costs, proposed funding sources and estimated timelines for start and completion. Administration officials agreed to provide updated documentation to the council and to pursue federal and state funding options for historic City Hall where appropriate.

The agenda included a resolution (7R4A) to extend introduction and adoption dates for the 2025 municipal budget; the transcript includes administrative explanation of the statutory deadline and the extension mechanism. The council discussed the request and asked for clarification about any further extensions beyond April 30; administration staff said they would seek additional guidance from the state if needed.