Campbell planning commissioners approve 2027�2031 capital improvement plan; debate focuses on $12 million pool and street funding limits

The Campbell Planning Commission on May 26 approved a resolution finding the citys 20272031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) consistent with the Campbell 2040 General Plan following staff presentations, commissioner questions and a public comment urging a community center master plan.

Daniel F., the project planner, told commissioners the annual review focuses on the consistency of new projects with the general plan rather than the merits of individual projects. "Based on that analysis, staff does recommend that the planning commission determine that the proposed capital improvement plan is consistent with the 2040 Campbell general plan," he said.

The routine vote followed extended questioning on several high-cost CIP items. Commissioners expressed "sticker shock" over a $12 million line item for replacing the community center pool, and asked whether the CIP funds or other city resources would cover the work. Recreation and Community Services Director Natasha Bissell said the figure includes an expanded pool footprint, updated locker rooms, programming space and design. She warned that deferring the project risks closing an ageing facility: "Our pool is being held together with toothpicks and bubblegum," Bissell said, adding that repeated, expensive emergency repairs and chemical imbalances make replacement urgent.

Commissioners also pressed Public Works Director Amy Olay about limits on the annual street maintenance budget and whether that money can be used for protected bike lanes or other "complete streets" elements. Olay said the majority of the street budget is restricted to repaving to meet a pavement-condition index (PCI) required by grant programs; she said repaving projects offer opportunities to add striping but that physical separators or curb modifications typically require separate funding. "It is a restriction on the funds for pavement," Olay said, describing maintenance-of-effort grant conditions tied to county and state transportation funds.

Other technical items drew questions: commissioners asked whether the $3 million budget for the Highway 17 south offramp covers design or construction; staff said about $2.4 million is Measure B/highway funding with the remainder from developer fees and that the amount is intended for design and initial work while future construction would require additional grants.

Public commenter Stephen Landry reminded commissioners that the parks master plan recommends a community center master plan prior to major construction, warning that deferred maintenance across facilities could amount to tens of millions in future costs. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns but said the commissions role for the CIP hearing was to determine general-plan consistency.

Vice Chair moved and another commissioner seconded the motion to find the CIP consistent with the general plan; a roll-call vote was taken and the commission declared the item passed. Staff noted the decision is final unless appealed in writing to the city clerk within 10 calendar days.

The commission moved to the next scheduled items after the vote. The CIP approval ensures the 20272031 rolling project list is the basis for future project-level budgeting and grant-seeking, but commissioners signaled follow-up on the pool and funding strategy would continue at future meetings.