Springfield staff unveil draft five-year CIP, shift priority toward stormwater and wastewater as street funds shrink

City Engineer Stan Petroff told the Springfield Planning Commission that the city's draft five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2027—1 prioritizes projects to meet regulatory needs, preserve assets and respond to council and citizen requests. "As you likely know, the CIP is a 5 year plan and is updated every 2 years," Petroff said as he opened his presentation.

Petroff said the city is adjusting the portfolio because the street fund is under pressure from falling gas-tax revenue and rising costs. He warned that a recently passed state transportation bill has not yet been signed and that the city may not receive its anticipated share on schedule. "We're looking at switching a little more towards stormwater and wastewater projects and doing less transportation projects," he said.

Using a new 2024 pavement inventory and AI analysis, staff produced a system score of "69 out of 100," which Petroff characterized as "not too bad." He said the data show about 11% of streets now need full repair, and that preservation work such as slurry and crack-seal (targeted at roughly six to eight miles per year) remains a priority to avoid costlier reconstruction.

Petroff described a project-scoring matrix that combines staff, council and regional priorities. Top transportation projects highlighted in the CIP include a new 48th Street connector between Main Street and Daisy with a 12-foot separated bike path, and emergency preservation work on Mohawk. Bond-funded preservation projects are moving to construction next year, and Mill Street is complete with a ribbon-cutting planned.

Stormwater received heightened attention: Petroff said the city is focused on a roughly one-mile levee along the east side of "40 Second" adjacent to the Mackenzie River, which staff describe as deficient because of its height, a culvert and tree growth. He said the city has received additional federal assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance alternatives analysis and repairs and that the combined federal contribution is now approximately $15 million, with a required local match to complete construction and channel stabilization.

Sanitary sewer priorities include the Jasper Trunk Sewer (design and construction sequencing), basin rehabilitation and lining to reduce infiltration, a Harbor Drive pump station scheduled to go to construction next year, and CMOM-driven pipe replacement identified in the wastewater master plan. Petroff said staffing constraints limit how many projects the city can deliver and that some positions may be shifted from transportation to wastewater and stormwater work.

On buildings and facilities, Petroff said a city hall remodel will absorb much of the buildings budget for the next several years and noted other needs such as stair repairs, elevator modernization and seismic upgrades for fire stations. He said the city budgets about $350,000 per year for building preservation but that many projects remain unfunded.

Petroff asked the commission for input and a referral to send the CIP to council with any comments; staff said the commission will be asked for a formal recommendation in January as the package moves into the spring budget process.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes from 10/07/2025 (with a correction noting an uncontested ex parte contact): approved by voice vote; individual tallies not specified. - Election of officers: the commission approved electing Commissioner Driggs as chair and retaining Vice Chair Schmunk as vice chair for the remainder of the session by voice vote; individual tallies were not specified.

What to watch The commission and staff emphasized that the CIP assumes receipt of anticipated state transportation funds; if those funds are delayed or reduced, several proposed projects could be scaled back or postponed. The planning commission will revisit the CIP and provide a formal recommendation to city council in January.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A by Stan Petroff (city engineer); planning commission meeting discussion and procedural votes.