Marion council narrows Capital Improvement Program priorities; flags Hannah Park bridge, alley utilities and wayfinding for earlier work

City staff presented the current draft Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 at the Dec. 17 Marion City Council work session and asked councilors for feedback on recommended projects and additional priorities.

Brian (city staff presenter) said the staff recommendation lists 88 projects totaling approximately $134 million across five years, with an additional $91 million in unfunded projects. He described funding sources and assumptions, noting that a substantial portion of CIP funding for major transportation projects comes from grants and local option sales tax, not property taxes.

Council discussion focused on which items from the staffs yellow/orange and gray lists should be elevated for earlier funding. Councilors voiced repeated support for adding a sidewalk improvement program, community wayfinding funding, replacement of the Hannah Park pedestrian bridge and initiation of utilities work for the Art in the Alley project. Several councilors also supported starting the alley utilities work in coordination with adjacent development to reduce schedule conflicts with utilities providers.

City staff said the CIP model currently includes roughly $5 million of additional capacity across the five-year window to allow for council priorities and adjustments. Staff recommended programming category-level funding for programs (for example, a funded annual sidewalk program) and then returning to council with a prioritized project list for actual construction schedules and assessments; this mirrors the existing pavement-management approach.

Key council directions recorded at the meeting, to be incorporated into the January budget work session and the subsequent CIP recommendation, included:

- Add Hannah Park bridge replacement to the near-term list. - Advance the Art in the Alley utilities project (coordinate with Alliant Energy and private property timelines). - Fund a community wayfinding program at a policy level and return to council with a prioritized implementation list (parks vs. citywide wayfinding to be clarified in follow-up). - Add an annual sidewalk improvement program and return with a prioritized project list for early work, such as the North 10th Street/Brockman segment noted by councilors.

Councilors discussed other items including pavement-management funding, park equipment replacement funding and demolition requests for two city-owned structures (the structurally deficient building adjacent to the public works facility and a tent-style salt/storage structure). Council members split on whether to include demolition of the structurally deficient building immediately; staff said insurance, liability and maintenance costs are part of the rationale for including demolition but that sale timing is not guaranteed.

Staff said the CIP will return to council in a recommended form after a budget work session in late January; council will have further opportunities to adjust the program before final adoption in the March–April timeline.

Why it matters: The CIP sets multi-year spending priorities that affect streets, utilities, parks and bonding capacity; council direction now shapes the staffs recommended budget and sequencing for major projects, including the Aquatic Center debt assumptions and Tower Terrace completion.

Next steps: Staff will update the CIP model to reflect councils directions and present a recommended CIP at the January budget work session and subsequent council meetings for formal adoption.