City staff recommendations for the capital improvement program were presented to Leander City Council on Nov. 5 and include several project deferrals for fiscal year 2020-21. The projects span FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
The 44 projects include:
- municipal facilities projects totaling $4.26 million, such as fire station construction and a police station remodel;
- parks and recreation projects totaling $1.82 million, such as Old Town Park concept drawings, Crystal Falls Golf Club renovations and the Senior Center site analysis;
- a stormwater project totaling $221,015 for Upper Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District models;
- transportation projects totaling $15.66 million, such as railroad quiet zones, San Gabriel Parkway phase 2 and Raider Way East and Woodview Drive improvements;
- wastewater projects totaling $29.2 million, such as wastewater treatment plant improvements and the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion; and
- water projects totaling $10.44 million, such as the design costs for the booster station.
Water projects also include two with critical priority: the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant project for $1.07 million and the water supply study for $359,837.
City Manager Rick Beverlin said the golf course is a city asset that has seen peak usage recently, thus making the $600,000 maintenance project needed, he said. City council authorized the renovation of the driving range and short-game practice area on Nov. 5.
Each project will come to the City Council for approval on design and construction contracts above $50,000. Assistant City Engineer Ross Blackketter said he plans to bring program updates to the council quarterly. He said something that is deferred can be readded if it is immediately needed.
The city is working to build a webpage with ongoing updates on each project for the public to view, he said.
Council and staff discussed deferring two water projects, the BCRUA plant share and deep water intake, for this fiscal year despite infrastructure issues in the city. Mayor Troy Hill and Council Member Jason Shaw said the water data will confirm if the two projects are best for the city. Council Member Christine Sederquist said the two projects should move ahead in the current fiscal year.
The water study draft report is expected in December, Blackketter said. The city is also waiting on the results of a transportation study to guide future road projects.
“I think it’s important that we start using independent data to make our decisions,” Council Member Marci Cannon said.
