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Council approves budget amendments, impact-fee changes and loan application for road projects; several site and reimbursement items pass
Summary
Saratoga Springs City Council on April 1 unanimously approved fiscal-year budget amendments, modest increases to drinking and secondary water impact fees, an application for a State Infrastructure Bank loan for roadway projects, and routine development actions including a reimbursement agreement and a site plan approval.
The Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved a set of routine and capital items during its April 1 meeting, adopting fiscal-year budget amendments, modestly increasing water-related impact fees and authorizing a loan application to the State Infrastructure Bank to help fund several road projects.
The council voted to adopt the fifth budget amendment for fiscal year 2024–25 (Resolution R25-13). Councilman Michael J. Macomber moved to approve the amendment; Councilman Jason E. Wheldon seconded the motion. The motion passed with council members recorded as voting in the affirmative.
The council then adopted an updated impact-fee analysis that increases drinking and secondary (irrigation) water impact fees by roughly 1 percent. Jeremy (staff member) told the council the net result equates to about $20 per home for drinking water and about $100 per home for secondary water irrigation. Councilman Wheldon moved to approve the amended impact-fee analysis; Councilwoman Barton seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
In a separate public hearing the council authorized staff to apply for a State Infrastructure Bank loan to fund multiple roadway projects, including widening portions of Mountain View Corridor and improvements at 400 North (including a new signal and four-lane conversion with center turn lanes). Jeremy said the city requested about $11,000,000; approximately $5,000,000 of that amount would be available immediately if the application is approved. Councilman Wheldon moved approval; Councilman Wadman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The council approved a reimbursement agreement with Westport Business Park LLC (Resolution R25-14) that would allow the developer to receive impact-fee credits for system improvements, primarily a traffic signal and alignment work on Harvest Hills (the reimbursement amount discussed in staff materials was approximately $122,000). The council also approved a site plan for Lynn Rose Dental at 2177 North Hillcrest Road; staff noted required separate permits for retaining walls and signage and the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval.
No items were continued or tabled. The council heard the tentative summary of budget requests for fiscal year 2025–26 as an informational item; staff indicated no council action was required at this meeting on the tentative budget.
Votes at a glance - Resolution R25-13 (budget amendments for FY2024–25): Moved by Councilman Michael J. Macomber; seconded by Councilman Jason E. Wheldon; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Amended drinking and secondary water impact-fee analysis: Moved by Councilman Jason E. Wheldon; seconded by Councilwoman Barton; outcome: approved (unanimous). Estimated net increase: ~1% (~$20/home drinking, ~$100/home secondary). - Authorization to apply for State Infrastructure Bank loan (various road projects, ~ $11,000,000 requested): Moved by Councilman Jason E. Wheldon; seconded by Councilman Wadman; outcome: approved (unanimous). Staff noted ~$5,000,000 available immediately if approved. - Resolution R25-14 (impact-fee reimbursement agreement with Westport Business Park LLC): Moved by a council member; seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). Reimbursement eligibility estimated at about $122,000 for transportation improvements. - Lynn Rose Dental site plan (Lot 8, Harvest Point commercial plat): Moved by Councilwoman Michael J. Macomber; seconded by Councilwoman Barton; outcome: approved (unanimous). Planning Commission recommended approval 5–0.
What the council said and next steps Staff said impact-fee updates reflect current development patterns and construction prices and that the modest water-fee increase is the smallest in about a decade. Jeremy explained the State Infrastructure Bank loan would be one piece of a larger funding strategy that could include MAG reimbursements and impact-fee reimbursements as new development occurs.
The council will take up the tentative and final budget steps in upcoming meetings; no final budget adoption occurred at this session.
