The city first adopted a Capital Improvement Plan back in 2007. Projects like Bell St. were in that plan and as we know, construction is expected to start there by this summer.
To put a project into the capital improvement plan, or CIP, Director of Finance Tina Dierschke says it needs to cost more than $25,000, be useful for at least 3 years, and take 6 months or longer to construct.
Currently there are a total of 130 projects in the plan, at a total cost of $417 million.
"That does not necessarily mean those projects are funded, but that would be the cost if we were to complete all of those projects that are in the 5 year plan," said Dierschke.
The first step in completing a project on the CIP is to take it to the city council.
"Once they feel good about the project then the next step would be to find funding,” said Dierschke.
“Sometimes it's through general fund revenues, sometimes it’s through grants, sometimes it’s through private public partnerships," said Dierschke.
She says by taking the capital improvement survey online, it helps the council decide what's important to residents.
Last year the city had less than 200 responses to the survey. This year, 823 people weighed in.
"We really are excited about the citizen involvement and their input into the plan so that we know we can move forward with doing things that they would like to see done in their community,” said Dierschke.
Two projects were the most popular, one being added recreation.
"Under our quality of life projects, the splash pad received 19.18 percent of the total vote,” said Dierschke.
Along with repairs to city streets.
"College Hills Boulevard and North Chadbourne St.," said Dierschke.
And she wants to remind citizens that while the council approved the plan overall, none of the specific projects have approval yet.
Of course we'll keep you updated on all city council projects as they come through.