On July 15, City Council approved ordinances authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds. The ordinances allow the council to authorize the sale of bond obligations at a future date, per city documents.
The bonds allocate $27 million for capital improvement projects and $16.3 million for water and sewer projects, according to city documents. The bonds were part of the four propositions Lewisville voters approved in the May 2024 bond package.
The details
The capital improvement projects include an expansion at the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, rehabilitation of the McKenzie-Hembry neighborhood and improvements to city streets, sidewalks, parks, trails and walkability connections, per city documents.
The bond also funds parkland acquisition and installation of public art.
With the $16.3 million bond for water and sewer projects, city officials aim to improve the wastewater treatment plant, replace water lines and improve various water and sewer infrastructure, according to documents.
The Context
In May, Lewisville residents approved a $263.4 million bond package aimed toward citywide infrastructure needs, including proposed street, park, public safety and animal shelter projects.
The bond included four propositions for different projects:
- Proposition A: $6.7 million for public safety projects, including fire access facilities at Lewisville Lake Park and purchasing land for the future relocation of Fire Station No. 4 in north Lewisville.
- Proposition B: $9.9 million for expansion of the Gene Carey Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.
- Proposition C: $47.9 million for parks projects, including new and expanded parks, trails and public open spaces citywide.
- Proposition D: $198.9 million for street projects citywide, including neighborhood reconstructions, major arterials, infrastructure to support the proposed redevelopment of the Vista mall area and associated storm drainage improvements.
The bond package’s creation was nearly a year and a half in the making. The Blue Ribbon Committee, which featured eight Lewisville residents, was initially presented with 68 projects totaling nearly $1 billion, committee Chair Karen Locke told Community Impact. After collaborating with city officials, the package was finalized with 24 priority projects.
The last time voters saw an infrastructure bond was in 2015, when they approved $135 million in four propositions. In 2021, voters passed a $95 million bond to construct a joint public safety complex for the police and fire departments.
Also of note
The new bonds will be sold via a competitive bid process as advised by the city’s financial advisors, Hilltop Securities, per city documents.
