Council reviews capital projects plan – Includes flood control and wastewater treatment upgrades
Published 9:59 am Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Austin is in line to complete a few big capital projects next year.
The Austin City Council reviewed a draft of its latest five-year capital improvement plan Monday. Under the plan, the city could spend about $127 million in capital projects over the next five years. City officials say Austin’s investment earnings, user charges and fiscal management will cover a large part of capital costs.
Among the largest projects to wrap up in 2015 is the North Main Flood Control work under way in downtown Austin. City officials expect to reopen Main Street in November and finish work on the west side of the Cedar River from Interstate 90 to the Austin Municipal Pool next year. The project will cost about $12.5 million total.
The city will also replace Riverside Arena’s heating and cooling system next year for about $1.5 million. Riverside has used much of its original equipment since it opened in 1973.
The city’s wastewater treatment plant will continue work to expand and maintain quality in response to increasing federal guidelines, according to Public Works Director Steven Lang. Lang said a homeowner has approached the city about buying his property directly adjacent to the plant, which fits under the city’s longterm plant expansion goals. The city may spend about $65,000 to buy and demolish structures on the property, Lang said.
“It was just more of a longterm plan that maybe we want to look at this home,” Lang said. He also stressed the city isn’t actively looking to buy property near the plant but could purchase homes adjacent to the plant as they come up for sale.
The city is also looking to complete several smaller projects. City staff, the state Department of Natural Resources and Vision 2020 hope to build a portage at the Cedar River dam by Fourth Street Northeast, which could include a mill wall restoration, retaining wall construction and tree clearing. The trail will connect above and below the dam, according to the capital improvement plan. The project should cost about $75,000, with $65,000 coming from grants.
The Austin Police Department is looking to get a new K-9 unit to replace Bosco, who is scheduled for retirement in 2015 after eight years of service. A new K-9 will likely cost about $10,000.