Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public works previews $5M paving program, ATP design and park grants for FY26–27
Summary
Public Works Director Lindy Palmer previewed 14 new CIP projects for FY26–27, including reduced paving this year with about $2.5M carried to next year, $600,000 for ATP phase‑2 design (with a $4.5M construction grant secured), a $750,000 playground grant for Sarasota Park, and Measure C‑related maintenance and code enforcement placeholders.
Public Works Director Lindy Palmer told the Ojai Finance and Budget Committee on May 19 that the department has identified 14 new capital projects proposed for FY26–27 and walked the committee through the streets, parks, climate and facilities categories.
Streets and paving: Palmer said the city’s paving budget for the current year will be reduced from about $4.5 million to $2.5 million with the remaining balance carried forward. She described a $600,000 line for design work on the second part of an Active Transportation Program (ATP) project (picking up near Valerio and Ohio Avenue) and said staff secured roughly $4.5 million in grant funding for the project’s construction phase.
"We were able to secure a $4,500,000 grant for that," Palmer said, noting the design funding is in the FY26–27 budget year while the larger construction cost appears in later years of the five‑year CIP.
Parks and facilities: In parks, Palmer described $250,000 planned work at Libby Park to address restroom and complex sewer interties with adjacent restaurants. She also said the city has a $750,000 external grant to fund a new playground at Sarasota Park (design and construction), which will not draw on Measure C or the general fund. Clough Vista improvements will be returned to council for discussion the following week.
Climate and stormwater: Palmer said the city allocated $1,000,000 for Climate Tech projects this year and another $500,000 next year to support solar and energy structures at Libby Park and the skate park. On stormwater, she described a video inspection program tied to paving designs and noted $200,000 in planned stormwater improvements.
Costs and policy items: Palmer estimated speed‑hump installation at $7,000–$8,000 per hump and said staff will bring a speed‑hump policy to council to guide permissiveness and demand. On supportive housing, Palmer said the Cabin Village/Dignity Moves numbers are placeholders (roughly $3M this year and $3M next year) and that the city requires DTSC certification before significant on‑site work can begin.
Funding and accounting questions: Committee members asked how external grants show up in the revenue tables and whether some CIP line items should be accounted for in different funds. Staff explained that CIP lives in Fund 31 and that transfers into and out of funds are used to reconcile revenue and expenditures, and they agreed to provide more detailed GL‑tracking to reduce confusion.
Next steps: Palmer said the CIP preview will be presented to the City Council on May 26 and that the committee will see a revised budget incorporating committee feedback at the June 2 follow‑up meeting.
