Beaumont adopts third amendment to 5-year CIP; funds downtown feasibility study, traffic signal and bike lane projects

The Beaumont City Council adopted a resolution approving the third amendment to the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2025–2029, adding five new projects, authorizing three budget changes and closing three projects.

Public Works staff described the package as including: a Pennsylvania Avenue/First Street traffic-signal upgrade estimated at $100,000 to add a southbound left-turn lane and to evaluate an additional through lane; a Potrero Boulevard Class 2 bike-lane installation (green markings and symbols) from Highland Springs to the westerly terminus estimated at $50,000 funded by an AQMD grant; a downtown revitalization feasibility study with a preliminary engineering scope and studies (traffic, hydrology, geotechnical, topography, right-of-way, preliminary environmental) estimated at $1,000,000 and funded from general funds and road-and-bridge DIF funds; a mobile CNG/RNG compressor to allow on-site fueling of transit buses (to be funded by transfers from closed projects); and a shop storage tank project for oil-waste management (also to be funded from funds freed by closed projects).

Project schedules and scopes: Public Works said the Pennsylvania/First signal design will begin in two to three months with a 6–12 month anticipated duration depending on materials; the Potrero bike-lane design will start in about one month with a 6–8 month duration; the downtown study will deliver studies and a 30% preliminary plan and staff emphasized it will engage council at multiple milestones and develop a public-engagement plan.

Finance staff framed the city’s overall CIP funding context: the presentation noted the city currently has combined CIP funding shown on a slide and described growing council commitment to CIP projects since 2018, plus an increase in grants and closed projects. Council members asked clarifying questions about project naming and dollar amounts, and about how the downtown study funding would be used (staff said the $1,000,000 is a high-level estimate and that the project cannot rely on additional DIF funds beyond those identified).

Council discussion included appreciation for staff responding to public requests for a traffic signal at Pennsylvania and First, questions about the location and scope of the renamed streetlight/sidewalk maintenance project (R-19), and questions about the CNG compressor’s portability and how it relates to the Fourth and Vealey site work. Staff said the proposed mobile compressor could be portable and sited in a secure yard if needed.

After public comment (none), Council voted to adopt the CIP amendment resolution on a unanimous roll call. Staff noted one closed-project settlement related to Tri Pointe had negated the need for a previously scheduled hearing.

Council asked staff to be available for follow-up questions and to provide design and bidding details as projects move to design and procurement phases.