The Capital Improvement Project list which was reviewed and approved by the Ceres Planning Commission in November was before the City Council on Nov. 12.
City Engineer Michael Beltran explained that the five-year CIP list contains important projects ranging from street improvements and «quality of life projects» like parks, to the multi-million dollar sewer plant renovation. He said department heads come up with projects based on citizen and council input. The Engineering Division normally prioritizes the order in which projects are accomplished but ultimate say comes from the council, which also approve the funding.
“That program actually gets added to every single year,” said Beltran. “Some projects, you’ll see, are actually beyond the five-year mark.”
Beltran said any new council can change the list based on their priorities.
Recently, Beltran ordered downtown lighting improvements added to the CIP list based on council input.
The CIP includes pavement overlays, sidewalk improvements, traffic operation system upgrades, bike paths, interchange improvements for Service and Mitchell road intersection.
At times a project is placed into the CIP years out with the expectation that funds will come later, such as awaiting grant funds, said Beltran.
The city is currently in the process of designing wastewater and storm drain master plans which will be coming before the council in the first quarter of 2025 which Beltran said “will have a whole new list of capital improvement projects that will get integrated into the CIP program, not necessarily something that we’re going to do right away but something that we will end up doing in the future as funds permit.”
When asked by a citizen how the CIP will affect parks and recreation, Beltran explained that Ochoa Park and Smyrna Park improvements were accomplished through federal ARPA funds.
He also noted that the city’s Neighborhood Parks fund, there is money accumulating for future improvements.
“(The) council can come to me for adding projects. This is a living document. It’s not just something that’s just sat and left alone and the public can come to us also.”
Councilman James Casey complained that Lions Park – one of the projects in his district that he’d like to see finished – isn’t on the list.
“It’s 25 years old and nothing has happened,” said Casey, who said the condition was a disgrace until city staff went out and cleaned it and “looks as good as any dirt lot can look.”
Casey also asked about the status of funding for the estimated $100 million sewer plant improvements scheduled for the 2027-28 fiscal year.
Beltran said different types of funding will be required for the sewer project.
As far as Lions Park, Beltran gave his best guess that a park of its size with «not a whole bunch of frills» will cost the city $8 million to $10 million.
“Obviously that goes up the more amenities that we want to put in a park. Right now, can we put it in the estimated cost beyond 2027-28? Yes. And as get funds can we allocate them? Yes we can. That would be a decision that this council or new councils would have to make. As I said, this is a living document.”
Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra asked about the sewer lift station in Crows Landing Road which she was told is included in the Crows Landing road rehabilitation project.
Casey voted no on the CIP which passed with votes by Mayor Javier Lopez and councilmembers Bret Silveira and Vierra.
