capital improvements

Staff provided a multi-project status update including Sandy Bay Highlands Phase 3 (contract preparation for curb/gutter and the first asphalt lift), Pierce Street being finished (including internal trails), and remaining Public Works shop repairs (a roof contract still needed).

Staff flagged concerns on the Memorial Drive/Washington Street Bridge, saying lane widths do not match the plan, cracking appears worse than expected, and curb heights make sidewalk strikes easier; staff said these issues should be documented and raised with the state before it becomes too late to fix.

A draft Fiscal Year 2026 city budget discussion covered a $42 million proposed budget with a proposed 3.8% levy increase, and identified that one-time revenues (including land sales, debt premium, and a cell-tower payment) were part of balancing the year.

Council discussion included potential budget choices residents would notice directly, including whether to restore cemetery flower funding, whether to fund library services at the level requested by the Library Board, and how to handle special events funding if concession revenue is redirected to the general fund.

No final decisions were made during the draft 2026 budget item; the discussion indicated unresolved tradeoffs expected to return at the final budget vote.

Staff reported that bid documents and specifications for the Public Works shop roof repair/replacement were still not completed, meaning the project was not yet ready to be competitively bid or scheduled based on pricing.

No next deadline or action plan for completing the shop roof bid package was recorded in the minutes for the Public Works shop repairs update.

An agenda item was scheduled for a discussion with representatives of Robert W. Baird and Company regarding borrowing.

An agenda item was scheduled to consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding limits for a resolution (title truncated in the available record).

In the 2026 budget review, staff told the committee the 2026 General Fund budget was not yet balanced, with about $60,000 left to cut and additional revenue still needed.

Committee members discussed options to address the budget gap but did not reach a full solution during that meeting.

The committee voted to recommend shifting concession stand income into the General Fund rather than the Special Events Fund.

As part of the 2026 budget review, the committee reviewed capital projects totaling $3,388,000, including $2,176,318 supported by property taxes.

City Council passed a resolution declaring official intent to reimburse eligible 2026 capital project and equipment expenditures with proceeds of future tax-exempt borrowing, in an amount not-to-exceed $2,563,818.

The council vote on the reimbursement-intent resolution was 6-3, and it passed.

The reimbursement-intent resolution stated that $350,000 of the amount would be repaid from the Electric Utility rather than the Debt Service Fund.

City Council approved limits for up to $2,565,000 in borrowing for the city’s 2026 capital improvement program.

The borrowing plan described $2,215,000 as supported by the property tax levy and $350,000 as supported by the Electric Utility (total $2,565,000).

The council vote on the borrowing resolution was 8-1 and it passed.

The borrowing plan included $255,000 listed for the Neshotah Beach concessions project.

Staff said plans and bid documents are being prepared for the 2026 Street Resurfacing Project (Emmet, 18th & 19th Streets), but utility contracts are taking priority over the resurfacing work at the moment.

For the 2026 Sidewalk Program, staff scheduled a March 18 follow-up meeting to discuss whether parts of the sidewalk program could be outsourced.

Staff presented three options for the Neshotah Beach concession stand: a basic code-focused fix (~$43,000), a major interior rework (~$360,636), or a new building with expanded restrooms and year-round indoor rental space.

Councilmembers’ general consensus was described as favoring the major remodel option, with interest in fully enclosing/opening the covered patio area; no formal decision was recorded in this agenda item.

Staff floated a fee-based parking plan for Lots 2 and 3 on 10 peak beach days in 2026 at $10/day, with staffing potentially by seasonal workers or community groups that could receive a share as fundraising; the council was described as receptive, but no decision was made.

An agenda item titled "WASTEWATER UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION" appeared under the broader capital improvements topic.