Capital Improvement Program
Summary
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a multi-year infrastructure and project investment plan that has been an ongoing subject of review and deliberation by the City Council across multiple budget cycles. It was first listed as a subtopic under the FY2026 Forecast at the November 2024 City Council Retreat and was again the subject of a process overview presentation at the January 2025 retreat. The five-year CIP (FY2027–2031) encompasses approximately $637.3 million in total spending across 84 projects, with an FY2027 appropriation of $83.1 million; a significant portion ($208 million) is associated with school renovations. The general fund (tax-supported) component is approximately $22 million for general government capital projects. On March 24, 2026, the Council held a work session reviewing the CIP alongside the Stormwater Utility Fund and Wastewater Fund, with presentations by CFO J.C. Martinez and consultants from Davenport and Company; the Council reached consensus directing staff to prepare a budget memo on the potential use of a referendum for capital improvement projects. The Planning Commission had previously submitted CIP recommendations to City Council. On May 5, 2026, the Council moved to adopt the FY2027 budget package, which included the FY2027–2031 CIP, with the motion made by Council Member Hardy Chandler and seconded by Council Member Peterson.
Open questions & options on the table
- Staff was directed at the March 24, 2026 work session to prepare a budget memo on the potential use of a referendum for capital improvement projects — the outcome or follow-up on that memo has not yet been recorded.
- The May 5, 2026 transcript records a motion to adopt the FY2027–2031 CIP as part of the broader budget package, but no final vote outcome or tally is recorded in the dated record for that meeting.
What members have said
At the May 5, 2026 meeting, Council Member Hardy Chandler made the motion to adopt the general fund, capital fund, wastewater fund, stormwater utility fund, and other funds — including the FY2027–2031 CIP — as part of the budget adoption actions.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[4] The Capital Improvement Program was listed as a subtopic of the FY2026 Forecast presentation scheduled for this retreat. No outcome recorded.
[2] A presentation on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process was scheduled for the Council retreat; no outcome recorded as no minutes or actions report exist.
[11a] The Capital Improvement Program was reviewed during the work session; Council reached consensus for staff to prepare a budget memo regarding potential use of a referendum for capital improvement projects.