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Council discusses 2026 state bonding priorities, signals support for sewer infrastructure for housing
Summary
Deputy Administrator Aaron Parrish presented a preliminary list of potential 2026 bonding priorities, including airport solar-covered parking, sewer infrastructure to unlock housing development, riverfront design work, South Broadway corridor improvements, and law-enforcement training facilities. Council discussion favored readiness and projects with clear local match potential, with several members urging focus on sewer infrastructure to drive housing.
City staff introduced a preliminary list of potential 2026 state bonding priorities and asked the council for feedback ahead of a June 2 resolution. The list included several categories: airport infrastructure and a covered-solar parking concept; sewer infrastructure targeted to spur housing investment; riverfront redevelopment (proposed as a design-stage request this year); 3rd Avenue SE street and sewer upgrades near the planned BRT terminus; Civic Center Drive corridor design; South Broadway design and sewer work; and law-enforcement training facilities.
Deputy Administrator Aaron Parrish said staff wants the council's input on which projects are ready for bonding because bonding requires a 50% local match and state legislators expect a clear, shovel-ready scope. Council members repeatedly emphasized readiness and local matching ability; several said sewer infrastructure that directly enables housing construction is a high priority because it is a clear, definable infrastructure ask with regional benefit.
Council member discussion also raised the political reality of bonding cycles: some members urged careful selection of a few well-prepared projects rather than a long wish list, and asked staff to coordinate with county partners so requests are complementary rather than competitive. City staff said they will refine the list and bring a recommended set of priorities to the June 2 council meeting for formal action.
What to watch: staff urged councilmembers to provide additional feedback before June 2, and to identify which projects the council is prepared to match locally if bonding is authorized.
Context: the discussion happened while the state legislature was still in session; staff said it is prudent to submit requests to secure a place in potential fall bonding tours even if a full bonding bill is not yet certain this legislative year.
