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A special study session detailing proposed capital improvements and funding needs for Redwood City for the rest of this year and the next five years was unveiled to the City Council on Monday night. The presentation was led by Assistant City Manager Michelle Poche Flaherty and several others from key departments in the city.
The capital improvement program (CIP) is where the city plans and appropriates funding for capital projects like buildings and infrastructure that cost $100,000 or more, Flaherty told council members, adding that the projects have “a useful life span of two years or more.”
Flaherty said city staff identified some projects they’d like to see completed if there was enough funding in the coming fiscal year.
Key department heads also gave presentations on projects that are underway, and other projects that will be deferred due to lack of funding.
Parks, Recreation and Community Outreach
Chris Beth, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Outreach, shared the results of recently completed projects, such as the racial equity mural along Jefferson Avenue, and projects that are underway, such as the Dolphin Park playground, which is undergoing renovation and was recently awarded the construction agreement to contractor McNabb Construction.
But looking ahead, Beth said there are no appropriations for the department for the upcoming fiscal year because they have projects that demand prioritization to avoid being deferred.
Beth said the parks department had identified programs that require funding. Still, those programs will have to be scaled back or extended timelines until new funding or alternative funding sources can be secured.
The programs include:
- Updating athletic field light poles and further conversion of athletic lights to LEDs for energy efficiency,
- Replacing old irrigation controllers in the parks and medians,
- Improving the National Guard Armory building at Red Morton Park,
- Investing in improving park pathways,
- Replacing and refreshing playground equipment and neighborhood parks,
- Replacing worn playground surfacing,
- Improving community center rooms and customer service desks and
- Creating the preservation plan long term improvements for the historical union cemetery.
Public Works
Public Works Director Terence Kyaw said that his department was reviewing capital improvement projects and gave a refresher on projects that are completed or nearing completion. Projects like the annual creek and canal maintenance were crucial to prevent flooding in the winter months. Public Works also has a role to play in identifying programs that must be delayed.
“The city is actively working on a couple of micro-grid projects to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the city operation,” says Kyaw.
One example of this micro-grid project is the Veterans Memorial building, which is poised to be energy efficient through solar panels, and recycled water for the toilets.
Programs being deferred include:
- Carpet Replacement Program
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Replacement Program (which was partially funded)
- Roof Replacement Program
- Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program
- Tenant Improvement Program
Civil Engineer
Senior Civil Engineer James O'Connell was one of the last department heads to speak on projects for the upcoming fiscal year. His department works alongside Public Works in terms of maintenance of ongoing projects. Although O’Connell said some needed to be deferred, all attention went to the presentation explaining the Highway 101/84 interchange and the grade separation.
“We're advancing right away phase of the project so that the project is ‘shovel ready,’ which will increase our ability to compete for funding,” said O’Connell, referring to the Highway 101/84 reconstruction project.
“Currently the funds that are needed are $186 million, but that's a total cost of $308 million – we have approximately $122 million,” he added.
As for the grade separation and transit center project, O’Connell shared that staff will continue to engage with property owners and developers along the railroad corridor.
Deferred or reduced projects:
- Potable water main replacement,
- Redwood Shores levee FEMA compliance start-up,
- Broadway pedestrian mall (PMA),
- Douglas pump station rehabilitation program due to the $1.2 million being awarded but with no set arrival time for the project
Next Five Years
Three departments were identified in a color coded pie chart that detailed what percentage of the money would be used where: blue (water and sewage), green (transportation) and pink (capital overlays). Once the money is appropriated in an enterprise fund, it can’t be used for any other upcoming project, even from a different department.
“So I can't ask Terence Kyaw to take money out of the sewer budget, [and] do a library renovation?,” asked Mayor Gee.
The city council will determine at an upcoming meeting which projects need prioritization. The next fiscal year's funding for this program will be brought to the council for final approval along with the operating budget at the June 26 public hearing and adoption of the city's fiscal year 2023-2024 budget.
As for the budget in five years, one CIP chart displayed that estimated needs outperformed estimated revenue. In other words, the city’s capital improvement program is facing a deficit of $318 million.
“Last year, Congress passed a $1 trillion multi-year funding package," said Flaherty. “And we are now monitoring that to see how these funds will be dispersed through various federal agency programs or state government pass throughs.”
Staff will bring recommendations through the finance and audit subcommittee and full council meeting later in November.
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