Priorities for $18.6 million in capital improvement projects over the next five years will be discussed when the Scotts Valley City Council meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive.
Funding sources have been identified for $10.6 million of the projects, leaving $8 million unfunded.
A key funding source has been the 2014 agreement with Lennar Homes that provided $1 million for parks and recreation in connection with approval of the 40-lot Polo Ranch subdivision. So far, the agreement has funded $237,500 worth of projects expected to be done by June 30, including the initial ADA improvements, with $303,400 to be spent in the next five years and $135,500 of projects approved but not scheduled.
Public works director Scott Hamby and budget consultant Steve Toler used a new system to rank 61 projects in the pipeline: “A” for critical to health and safety or legal/regulatory requirements, “B” for important to health and safety or quality of life but not critical, and “C” for deferrable.
Of the 61 projects, 20 estimated to cost $2.1 million are recommended for 2017-18.
Green Hills Road, allocated $811,000 and including sharrows on South Navarra Drive and Glen Canyon Road, is the most expensive project on that list. The primary funding source is a $711,000 Regional Transportation Commission grant requiring an 11 percent city match.
Construction could start in August and finish in two months.
Body cameras and training are estimated to cost $100,000, and $75,000 is allocated for resurfacing streets. A new citywide phone and voice mail system is estimated to cost $150,000.
Unfunded projects are: Sidewalks for 13 locations, $2.5 million; nine storm drain projects, $184,300; bike lanes at Bethany Drive, Granite Creek Road, El Rancho, North Navarra Drive and Lockhart Gulch and bike rest stops, $2.9 million; completion of Al Shugart Park with a dog park, restrooms, parking and picnic area, $2.5 million.
Sidewalks and storm drains are rated “B” and bike lanes and Shugart Park rated “C.”
The Measure D sales tax is expected to provide $240,000 a year to Scotts Valley.
Staff recommended Measure D funds for Green Hills Road and Bean Creek Road pavement rehab as “A” projects and Glenwood Drive pavement and Kings Village sidewalk improvements as “B” projects.
The Measure S sales tax is expected to provide $3 million for library improvements. The top priority is replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, $122,000, then roof repairs, $170,000. Neither was upgraded before the library opened in 2011.
Toler, the finance consultant, reported the city has $12 million invested in vehicles used by public works, wastewater plant and police, information technology, and building components such as roofing and carpet.
He recommended the city switch from a pay-as-you-go approach to setting aside money every year toward replacement.
Scotts Valley uses the pay-as-you-go method for retiree medical benefits and next year will pay $305,000, a sum estimated to rise to $405,000 by 2021-22 and $485,000 by 2025-26.
A consultant found the unfunded actuarial liability is $8.4 million. Toler recommends this be discussed along with the five-year financial plan.
©2017 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
