Assistant Manager Ken Heerman gave an overview of the program during a work session, and the council approved the budget in a consent agenda item in the regular session. During the work session, council got a status update on 2021 bond election projects.
The background
In the work session, council discussed ongoing bond projects, and Heerman gave a rundown of what has happened since the 2018 bond election, with $7 million allocated total, and $4.1 million dedicated to parks projects and $2.8 million targeted for street projects.
The last two remaining projects are listed below:
- Construction of the sidewalk on Highland Village Road from the Municipal Complex to Sellmeyer Lane is meant to increase pedestrian safety and connect residents to amenities along Highland Village Road. The project is “substantially complete,” according to a City Council agenda memo.
- The Chapel Hill Trail Connection connects to the City Trail for a major subdivision—Chapel Hill. The project is expected to be finished this summer.
“That will pretty much close that bond issue, and we can put that to bed and move onto our current one,” Heerman said.
What’s happening?
The 2021 bond issue, with projects under construction, has $15.2 million dedicated to improvements, including $8.6 million for streets and drainage, and $6.4 million for parks. The city will reconstruct parts of Highland Shores Boulevard and Highland Village Road along with 28 streets meeting criteria, and, for parks, Pilot Knoll Park will see some improvements. Other parks in the city will get upgrades, such as lighted basketball courts at Unity Park and playground equipment replacement at Sellmeyer.
The City Council agenda memo states, though, that the total scope of projects identified combined for streets and parks totaled $25 million. The certificate of obligation issued in 2021 totaled $15 million, and the remaining $10 million will likely be considered in the next funding window—with expiring debt—in fiscal year 2026-27.
A projected 2027 bond issue for $8.5 million would target Copperas Branch Park for improvements, such as trails, road and electrical projects as well as boat launch relocation, the council heard. The $8.5 million, between now and 2027, will be re-evaluated based on conditions prevailing at that time, said Laurie Mullens, marketing and communications director for the city.
