Mayor requests larger pipe‑replacement allocation as council readies budget workshop

Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino presented agenda item 46, asking council to consider a substantial increase in the city’s allocation for water and wastewater pipe replacement beyond the approximately $130 million already committed. He framed the request as a public‑health and economic‑development priority and called for an accelerated multi‑year capital strategy that would target the riskiest, aging lines.

City management and utilities staff said the projects are largely enterprise‑funded and described the existing tranche approach (phased tranches of roughly $11 million). Staff stressed the need to balance accelerated replacement against ratepayer impacts and offered to present options in the budget workshops next week. Council seconded the motion and voted to bring the item to the budget meeting for detailed fiscal options; the motion passed.