Residents question ICIP entries for river bridge utilities and raise traffic-safety concerns

During a public hearing on the city's Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP), residents raised concerns about a proposed two-part vehicular and pedestrian bridge project that would extend water and wastewater utilities across the river, and about safety and signage on current street projects.

"I'm concerned that the bridge across the river is divided into two parts...and I don't understand why this is on the ICIP," said Kathleen Sloam, a resident who identified herself and said the annexation dates back to 1996. Sloam said earlier public hearings had produced negative comment and urged that developers pay for the bridge if development is desired across the river.

Another resident, John Diaz, who said he is a retired highway and traffic engineer, criticized project management and public safety practices after recent work closed two main hospital entrances with little advance signing. "If a person has to find his way to another entrance to the hospital, that's inexcusable," Diaz said, and offered to help train city crews on traffic signage.

City staff and the ICIP presenter explained the ICIP's role as a five-year planning tool that lists shovel-ready projects for capital-outlay funding and said the city ranks projects using criteria such as public health, safety, and regional benefit. City officials recorded the public comments for later ICIP discussion and said commissioners would address detailed project decisions in a subsequent agenda item.

Tree New Mexico, represented earlier in the meeting by June Russet, also asked that shade and green infrastructure be better integrated into ICIP projects and offered to collaborate on tree surveys and replacements.

The ICIP public-comment segment concluded with the commission noting the comments for further agenda review and thanking residents for the input.