Council hears updated downtown modernization plan; cost estimate rises to $7.5–$10 million

City staff presented an update on a downtown modernization and Main Street streetscape project that the city originally budgeted at $5 million in its grant application, but now estimates could range from roughly $7.5 million to $10 million depending on options and contingencies.

"We received $2,000,000, which was the maximum allowable funding," the presenter said, and later summarized: "our estimate is roughly about anywhere from 7.5 to $10,000,000" (presentation by Presenter, S6). Staff reported more than 300 survey responses during public engagement in late 2025 and early 2026, with 70% of respondents living in town and a majority favoring a blend of historical and Latino-cultural design features.

The presentation listed top desired elements—shade trees, green infrastructure, wayfinding signage, decorative pavement and outdoor dining—and identified the most impactful features as outdoor dining, year-round activity programming, traffic calming and high-quality paving materials. Staff advised the council that some large-ticket items (shade structures, water feature, clay pavers, soil cells) are major cost drivers and that the current concept includes a 25% contingency to reflect design unknowns.

Staff said they will bring an amendment to the civil-engineer design contract to a future meeting so detailed design can proceed and the project can stay on schedule (intent to bid early 2027 and to start construction in spring 2027). No formal contract award or budget appropriation occurred Aug. 3; council members asked staff to return with alternate design packages and cost-saving options for consideration at an upcoming meeting.