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Council committee reviews 2027–2031 capital improvement plan; water projects and green infrastructure drive costs
Summary
City staff presented the proposed 2027–2031 capital improvement plan to the finance committee, saying the document contains about 200 projects, that water infrastructure is the largest share of planned spending and that several high-cost regulatory drivers — including PFAS standards and mandated lead-service-line replacement — are influencing priorities.
City staff presented a first draft of the proposed 2027–2031 capital improvement plan to the Lancaster City Council finance committee on July 6, outlining a five-year funding and implementation schedule, the plan's major cost drivers and opportunities for public comment.
The presentation, led by Chief of Staff Amanda, framed the CIP as a planning document that will be refined this summer and fall: "Tomorrow, the capital budget will be posted on Engage Lancaster for input from the public," she said, and staff encouraged councilors to submit questions through a dedicated JotForm before the Sept. 8 hearing and anticipated adoption on Sept. 22.
Why it matters: the draft prioritizes water and wastewater work that staff say is driven by regulatory mandates and aging infrastructure. The plan lists about 200 projects across funds — staff said roughly 52 projects are in the general fund, 16 in stormwater, and the remainder across water and sewer — and water projects account for nearly half of the plan's total estimated dollars. Amanda told the committee the city manages over $93,000,000 in grants across departments but cautioned that grants are not guaranteed and some projects remain unfunded in the 2029–2031 years.
Departmental staff described project drivers and examples. Deputy Director Cindy McCormick said public-right-of-way projects are guided by the parks master plan, Vision Zero and the active transportation plan, and highlighted work on Joe Jackson and Yule Gantz parks and planning for Reservoir Park. Matt Metzler, deputy director for construction and operations, described a facility condition assessment used to prioritize maintenance and an operations-center expansion at 150 Pitney Road intended to co-locate crews and reduce duplicated equipment.
The sustainability and stormwater division highlighted green infrastructure projects that staff said stretch local dollars. "The East Ross Street project is anticipated to capture more than 3,000,000 gallons of stormwater annually," Molly said, adding curb bump-outs, rain gardens, infiltration systems and up to 40 new street trees as proposed elements to reduce flows to the combined sewer system and improve neighborhood streetscapes.
Utilities director Steven Campbell (reading comments prepared by the deputy director for utilities) outlined wastewater upgrades tied to a U.S. EPA consent decree and changing state and federal rules. He described plans to upgrade pump stations and clarifiers and to move from lime stabilization toward anaerobic digestion to reduce biosolids volumes and reuse methane. Campbell warned of regulatory pressures: "The U.S. EPA is currently evaluating standards for PFAS," he said, and noted the federal lead and copper rule will require replacement of identified lead service lines within a 10-year window beginning in 2027.
Council members asked how priorities can change over time and how public feedback will be integrated; staff said the CIP is a flexible planning tool and that the engagement window before the Sept. 8 hearing should surface questions and priorities for further study.
What's next: staff will post the capital budget on Engage Lancaster and accept written questions through the JotForm ahead of the Sept. 8 hearing. The finance committee and city staff said they expect to refine funding assumptions as grant and PennVEST outcomes are confirmed.
