College Place outlines $52.9 million 2026 capital program, $179 million planned over six years

College Place staff presented a finalized capital facility plan Wednesday that anticipates $52.9 million in capital spending for 2026 and nearly $179 million over the next six years, city staff said.

Mr. Carlton, the staff member who presented the plan, summarized recent completions and priorities, citing Lions Park ($7,000,000), a post office crosswalk ($159,000) and a newly started downtown parking lot purchase. He said the city expects large 2026 investments in streets, wastewater and water infrastructure and noted a planned wastewater treatment plant Phase 1b of about $10,000,000 and a Mershunia Road project of roughly $9,600,000.

"A total $52,900,000 in expected expenditure in 2026," Mr. Carlton said as he reviewed line-item totals and the budget incorporation for next year. He added the six-year total approaches $179,000,000 and stressed that many projects depend on outside grant funding.

Mr. Carlton outlined a water-system issue that altered near-term priorities: Well Number 8, drilled earlier this year, has produced about 500 gallons per minute instead of the roughly 1,500 gpm staff had hoped for and shows high manganese levels. "So we're actually abandoning that well at this point," he said, and staff is "trying to work with Department of Health to move this $4,000,000 in spending to a new well project number 9."

The presentation included other funding details: the city—s transportation benefit district (a 0.1% sales tax started in 2024) brings in about $350,000 annually for local road projects, and Department of Ecology grants commonly fund an 85/15 split in which Ecology covers 85% and the utility provides a 15% match for certain projects.

Mr. Carlton also outlined long-range items, including a major police station expenditure showing in 2029 and a possible property purchase in 2027 listed at $800,000 to support that project, and said staff hopes to combine federal grants and a future bond measure to complete station funding. He told commissioners the 2026 amounts have been incorporated into the city—s 2026 budget and that timing and funding availability will dictate when projects proceed.

Commissioners asked a few clarifying questions and thanked staff for the overview; no formal vote on the plan was recorded in this segment. The plan had been approved by the City Council on Nov. 25, 2025, and staff presented the finalized version to the commission for review.