Public Works seeks interfund loan increases for tree purchases and West Prairie Lift bridge design

A Public Works representative told the Finance Committee the department seeks two interfund‑loan (IFL) increases: one for engineering design of the West Prairie Lift bridge and another in parks to increase the existing IFL for the tree program so the city can buy more trees under newly secured price agreements.

The parks IFL increase was described as a straightforward purchase of trees; staff said federal dollars will be used to implement the purchases and that the purchase agreements allow the city to increase the number of trees planned under the original design. A deputy commissioner identified as Nolan explained the tree purchase timing and said approving the IFL would let the department move forward with procurement.

Committee members asked whether the IFL items were time sensitive. Staff said the tree purchase would benefit from prompt approval to secure prices and allow federal dollars to be expended. The committee moved to approve the items; members were thanked and staff prepared the items for the next step on the agenda.

No detailed dollar amounts for the IFL increases or the bridge design were stated in the portion of the meeting that was recorded, and the committee asked staff to provide the budget breakdown to members.