New plan streamlines city project plans New plan streamlines city project plans (December 09, 2005)

Keeps public funds in single reserve awaiting approvals
by Jeb Bing

City leaders are developing a new priority plan for future capital improvement projects, throttling down the costs in recognition of a coming slowdown in revenue growth as Pleasanton reaches build out.

In the past, proposed projects were advanced by individual council members, city staff, organizations and residents with scores of proposed projects. Each year, the council has reviewed these projects and, if approved, often allocated a start-up fund which was increased each year as the project moved toward the top of the list.

The new plan, proposed by Deputy City Manager Steven Bocian, would establish a single Capital Improvement Project Reserve (CIPR) that would be used to cover selected project costs. The renovation of the Veterans Memorial building, for example, had money allocated to the project and then money taken away as the council switched the funds to more immediate priorities. The project was repeatedly delayed because of the funding shortfall until this year, when the work was fully funded.

Besides the change in funding, Bocian is proposing five CIP categories, with plans to place future projects like the Veterans Hall into one of them. They are:

* Health and Safety - This mostly includes water and sewer projects, but also work to structures damaged in the event of an earthquake.

* Voter Mandate - Projects that are addressed as a result of a voter approved mandate, such as the 1986 initiative that approved funding for a new library.

* Dual Purposes - These are projects that could serve multiple community needs and also provide economic benefits, such as the proposed Firehouse Arts Theater on Railroad Avenue or new roadways and sidewalks for downtown.

* Community/City Needs - These would include recent renovations to the Civic Center to provide new power and computer amenities, or the expansion of the public library.

* Community Enhancement - These projects could include renovation to Kitting Creek, which would enhance the beauty of the parkland while also serving as a better flood control waterway.

The five priorities now on the list include building three baseball fields on the Bernal property, budgeted at $4.7 million; rebuilding Alviso Adobe Park off Foothill Road, $2.3 million; building the Firehouse Arts Theater, an estimated $8 million project which the city has agreed to contribute $5.8 million; renovation of the Veterans Memorial Building on Main Street, $3.2 million; and restoration of Kottinger Creek, $978,000.

Council members, who reviewed the proposed CIP process changes Tuesday, asked for a revised plan that would provide greater flexibility in moving CIP projects into different categories. Councilwoman Cindy McGovern also asked for historical data to show what CIP projected costs were on completed projects, and what the final bill totaled.

Councilman Matt Sullivan proposed additional categories, including environmental awareness and regional benefits. Councilman Jerry Thorne suggested looking at in lie fees collected for new parks which might be re-designated for other uses now that the city park system is reasonably completed.

Kevin Close of Happy Valley told the council that he's concerned that longstanding CIP projects, such as the Happy Valley bypass road, might get "lost" in this new process. He said $1 million has been set aside to build the road, which could cost as much as $15 million.

"I'm concerned that the council and staff will now be able to prioritize projects and then unprioritze them without any public notice," he said. "I want to make sure the bypass road stays on the radar screen."

Mayor Jennifer Hosterman said city staff and the council will take another look at Bocian's CIP plan and revisions in February.

"We like the concept," she said. "It's far better than the numerical order we used to follow. Sometimes the method of deciding one project over the other was like covering our eyes and throwing darts at the enormously long list we had to consider."

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