Uni Hill staff outlines $25M garage investments, mobility‑hub research amid budget pressure

Elliot, a Community Vitality staff member, outlined the department's draft budget for fiscal 2026 on July 8, saying the department submitted an operating request of roughly $12.8 million and a capital program of about $12.1 million, for a combined total near $25 million. The operating total is lower than prior years largely because an entire enforcement program (including parking enforcement) is proposed to move to Planning & Development Services, she said.

The largest capital change is an increase driven by a CMGC (construction manager/general contractor) approach to multiple parking garage renovations. "We're looking at about a $25,000,000 investment over the next six years across multiple garages," Elliot said; the work is intended to address deferred maintenance and explore new uses for garage space, including bicycle infrastructure, flexible loading zones and other mobility‑hub features. Staff said the city received a small grant this year to research mobility hubs and is planning implementation work next year.

Staff also flagged use of CCRS dollars and a 1% CIP allocation for public art across capital projects, and said other highlighted areas include streetscapes and district vitality programming. Elliot told commissioners the department intends to maintain essential district services—such as the Hill's snow removal and on‑street program—even as funding pressures require review of other discretionary items.

On timing, staff said the executive budget team will review departmental requests in late July, the City Council will have a first review Aug. 29, and final adoption is scheduled for Oct. 23 unless additional readings are needed. Staff cautioned that some General Fund and UJID allocations that were anticipated for projects such as the Fortson/Fourteenth Street work might be reallocated depending on citywide budget decisions. "The project is shovel‑ready," staff said of some medians and streetscape items, "but if general fund components are reduced, the scope could be limited to median maintenance rather than broader transit stop improvements."

Why it matters: the CMGC garage work and mobility‑hub planning represent a shift of capital emphasis from routine operations to larger renovation and repositioning of parking assets, and any reallocation of general fund dollars will affect the scope of planned streetscape and district improvement projects.

What's next: staff will meet with the executive budget team and return to the commission with materials after City Council's initial review; commissioners were asked to provide feedback during the council study session and to expect further information in September.