The majority of funding for capital improvements throughout the city, including $3 million for a new soccer field at Columbus Elementary School, comes from $25 million in previously issued bonds, said Finance Director Bob Elliot.
The city did not receive any of the $30 million in proceeds, which must be used to projects in or benefiting the downtown area, last fiscal year.
Expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year are proposed at almost $13 million, or about $5 million less than was previously planned, Elliot said.
Some projects originally planned for new construction — such as the Montrose Library and Fire Station 29 — have been downgraded to renovations, while other projects have been pushed back in the timeline, McFall said.
Necessary street construction and maintenance projects will be able to continue without interruption by utilizing accumulated gas tax funds.
Other major projects scheduled for work include a new community pool at Pacific park, the city-owned Rockhaven Sanitarium and various library renovations, McFall said.
The council voted to eliminate a $3-million street and sidewalk improvement plan for Brand Boulevard between the Ventura (134) Freeway bridge and Glenoaks Boulevard scheduled for 2011-12 fiscal year.
Public Works Director Steve Zurn said he recommended the improvements, but that they were not needed for safety.
“We’ll keep it safe,” he said. “It’s just the aesthetics that will suffer.”
It was a sentiment Councilman Dave Weaver took a step further as the cutting starts to have real consequences.
“That leaves more money for libraries,” he said.
