Staff unveils draft five‑year CIP; commissioners press for clearer bond packaging and public messaging

City staff presented the first draft of the five‑year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) on April 6, outlining a multi‑year program of utility, transportation, drainage, facilities and parks projects and preliminary funding approaches ahead of a possible 2026 general obligation bond.

Matt Recctor, the city's director of utilities and engineering, opened the CIP presentation and framed it as a draft for commissioner input. He said staff are coordinating the CIP with a potential bond program and expect to return with a more finalized document; the commission will make a recommendation to council before budget adoption. Staff described major funding sources under consideration: certificates of obligation, general obligation bonds, WIFIA (federal water infrastructure loan), Texas Water Development Board programs, impact fees and grants.

Key infrastructure highlights presented by staff:

- Reclaimed water: multiple proposed projects to expand reclaimed water irrigation and reduce potable demand, including a reuse line from the central wastewater treatment plant to the 1849 Park area.

- Water: an ongoing water treatment plant expansion to increase capacity (staff cited a change from roughly 7.1/17.7 MGD references to a planned 30 MGD facility) and roughly $258 million in water‑system projects over the planning horizon.

- Wastewater: upgrades and large‑diameter interceptors to serve eastward growth; staff cited approximately $490 million proposed in wastewater projects over the next five years, with WIFIA as a major financing tool.

- Drainage: a set of channel and detention projects aimed at reducing flood risk; staff estimated roughly $68 million of drainage needs that are not yet funded.

- Transportation: a program of about 51 projects including corridor work on the 685 corridor split into phases; staff emphasized the need for relief routes during major corridor construction and a pavement‑condition maintenance program.

- Facilities and parks: facility renovations, a downtown parking garage, and multi‑phase park projects (notably further work at 1849 Park and new park concepts in the Historic Colored Edition) with various funding sources including potential GO bond dollars.

Commissioners asked for clearer packaging of projects intended for a proposed 2026 GO bond. Staff said the draft will be refined to show a discrete GO 2026 line so the public and commission can see what would be in the bond package; staff noted the bond currently being considered for November is roughly $200 million (planning figure). Commissioners requested stronger public messaging showing what prior bond monies produced, project delivery status, and the per‑household or per‑ratepayer cost of a bond package to help voters evaluate tradeoffs.

Staff emphasized the draft nature of the CIP and said it will be updated and returned to the commission for more detailed review. Commissioners suggested additional study/work sessions if needed to line‑item priorities before a formal recommendation to council.