Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Improvement Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council accepts draft five-year Capital Improvement Plan to be finalized with budget
Summary
Council accepted a draft five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that lists roughly $2 billion of identified capital needs across city programs; staff will finalize the CIP numbers and project schedules when the FY26 budget is adopted.
Santa Barbara —n(2025-03-11) —nThe City Council accepted a draft five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at the March 11 meeting, directing staff to finalize the CIP when the FY2026 budget is adopted.
Plan overview: Staff presented a draft CIP that inventories the city's capital needs across enterprise funds, special revenue programs, internal services and general-fund departments. The draft lists roughly $2 billion in identified needs across all programs and shows approximately $450 million of anticipated spending in the plan's first two years; staff said the first two years are the most certain and that later-year figures are placeholders.
Funding and prioritization: Staff described the prioritization methodology used to compare projects competing for the same funding sources (factors included funding source constraints, long-term operating impacts, risk management, public benefit and project readiness). On the funding side staff highlighted the role of grants, Measure C and enterprise revenues. Staff noted competing demands: the police-station project and the Dwight Murphy Park redevelopment impose significant near-term Measure C obligations that reduce funds available for other capital needs.
Key program highlights: Large enterprise programs with capital needs include wastewater and water system upgrades (notably Ekwill electrical upgrades and water-main replacement programs), marina and waterfront maintenance and airport runway/taxiway and terminal projects tied to FAA funding. Parks and Recreation projects include the Dwight Murphy master plan project and Ortega Park improvements; facilities projects include ADA upgrades and the City Hall elevator and restroom work.
Process and next steps: The draft CIP was accepted for planning purposes; staff will update project budgets and timelines as the FY2026 budget is finalized and return with a final CIP that aligns with adopted appropriations. Council accepted the report with a roll call that showed six votes in favor and one absence recorded (Council Member Harmon absent).
