Proposal:

This request pertains to the required annual update of the Comprehensive Plan’s Capital Improvements Element five-year schedule of capital improvements (Table CIE-2). The Capital Improvements Element evaluates the timing, cost, and ability to fund projects that are needed to maintain public facilities and services at the adopted level of service standards. The City’s adopted level of service standards are identified in CIE Policies 1.5.1 and 1.6.2 in the Capital Improvements Element. The entire element including these policies can be viewed in the City Clerk’s office or in the Development Department.

Projects identified in the five-year schedule of capital improvements are needed to:

• Correct an existing deficiency in the level of service of a facility/service;
• Maintain the facility/service in accordance with the adopted level of service standard; or
• Address a projected deficiency in the facility/service level of service during the five-year planning period (FY 2015/2016 - FY 2019/2020).

In the context of the Comprehensive Plan, a capital improvement is defined as land, non-structural improvements to land and structures including design, permitting, construction, furnishings and equipment with a unit cost of $50,000 or more.

The five-year schedule of capital improvements must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Analysis:

Using the City’s current Capital Improvements Plan (FY 2015/2016 – FY 2019/2020), Staff identified projects meeting the five-year schedule of capital improvements criteria listed above. Those projects are listed according to facility type in Table CIE-2: five-year schedule of capital improvements (FY 2015/16 - FY 2019/2020) in Attachment “A” to Ordinance #2016-2070. The schedule includes the project title, monetary cost by fiscal year, the revenue source(s), level of priority relative to level of service needs (high, medium, or low), and funding status.

Currently, the only facility in the City experiencing a level of service deficiency is US Highway 19. The facility is operating at level of service F. Also, the segment of Main Street from the Pithlachascotee River to US Highway 19 is approaching a deficient status. As shown in Table CIE-2, the City is funding several pedestrian and bicycle projects over the five-year planning period in an effort to reduce automobile trips in downtown and other parts of the City.

The proposed new language is shown with highlighting and underlining; deleted language is shown with strikethrough.  

Compatibility with Comprehensive Plan:

The proposal is consistent with the following Comprehensive Plan objectives and policies:

• CIE Objective 1.1 - Provide capital improvements to correct existing deficiencies, accommodate desired future growth, and replace worn out or obsolete facilities, as indicated in the Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements.
• CIE 1.1.1 - The City shall continue to develop and update annually a multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the first year of which shall be the Capital Budget. The Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (Table CIE-2) shall be made part of the adopted Capital Improvements Program.