As the city of Leander prepares for its next budget cycle, residents are offering their thoughts for capital improvements moving forward.
The Leander Planning and Zoning Commission met April 27 and discussed a list of capital improvements to recommend to the city manager as a focus for next year's budget. Assistant City Manger Tom Yantis said the City Charter includes a section about the commission submitting a list of recommended capital improvements, but the practice has not been done for several years.
Each recommendation was ranked by importance, and the list included:
- Review the city's architectural pattern book. This was a plan put together in a joint meeting that looks at creating a book with traditional architectural style ideas for homes. The commission also recommended a review of the architectural features of the Composite Zoning Ordinance, which establishes development standards for properties within the city limits.
- The Old Town Master Plan, which addresses improvements to the physical infrastructure of Old Town, including streets, sidewalks, utilities, lighting, etc. This plan tied in the rankings with completing sidewalks in the city.
- Hiring staff and updating technology, which tied with transportation between Old Town and the Transit-Oriented Development in rankings
- Landscape and beautification along major corridors such as Bagdad Road and Highway 183.
- Strong Towns presentation. Commissioners requested a training presentation by the national organization Strong Towns, a media organization that works with cities, towns and neighborhoods to address growth and development.
Yantis said he will now take the recommendations to City Manager Kent Cagle as staff departments begin budget meetings for the 2017-18 cycle. The list will be presented to City Council members at a later date, and Cagle will offer recommendations about what projects are reasonable based on the funds available.
Yantis said the commission is likely to go through a similar process each year.
"I think it's good for the commission being able to implement recommendations into the comprehensive process," he said.
