Town staff has outlined for the Town Council a $3.25 million capital improvement proposal for this next fiscal year. Public Works Director Justin Weldy, who manages capital projects for the town, presented the plan to council members at a special session on March 26.

About $2 million ($1,905,000) in funding would come from the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Fund. The remainder is divided between contingency funds, the state Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), the Downtown Strategy Fund and grant monies.

The town has nearly $3.8 million in its CIP Fund, which would leave it at an uncomfortably low $1.7 million after the fiscal year.

Weldy’s proposal sets aside $50,000 for miscellaneous drainage repairs and improvements, $50,000 for a drywell construction to handle drainage from the Civic Center area and $75,000 for drainage improvements on Eagle Mountain Parkway. Weldy said this project is a priority due to the system not working properly due to damage done during original construction.

Other projects include continued upgrades to drainage around the Golden Eagle Park flood plain impoundment area. There is $500,000 earmarked for this work, although not all would be done in the coming fiscal year.

Some initial work has been done to clear the wash channels in the park following severe flooding that caused significant damage to park facilities last October.

Additional work to be done in phases would be to reinforce berms to drainage areas within the park as well as upstream improvements to be identified by an engineering study currently underway.

Town Manager Grady Miller emphasized to the council that Golden Eagle Park, particularly the ball fields most severely damaged by flooding, remains a designated impoundment, or containment, basin for floodwater and the town cannot do anything to prevent flooding.

“The objective is to minimize the number of times flooding happens and reduce the severity of the damage,” Miller said.

Staff is asking that $150,000 be allocated for a 1,200 square-foot building to be constructed within the street yard on Tower Drive.

Weldy said the structure would be designated as a sign shop for temporary signs needed by the street department. It would also serve as storage for other signs and sensitive traffic count equipment.

He said that currently staff uses three steel shipping containers for the storage and after 20 years those structures are deteriorating. Also, there is no climate control and equipment needs to be removed when signs are constructed on the back of trucks.

Weldy said they determined it is not practical to use the existing maintenance shop building, and the new structure would provide a more efficient and safer environment to assemble the temporary signs. He said the shop cannot be used for regulatory signs, as they must meet strict specifications for construction.

A project that has been deferred for a couple of years is repairs to the concrete walkway around Centennial circle. Staff has done extensive grinding to remove trip hazards but cracks remain.

Weldy said $150,000 has been set aside for the work and staff would be willing to look into using pavers instead of concrete for the work. He said over the long term that would allow any repairs to be made more easily and cheaper.

Staff is proposing the town get conceptual design information for a potential solar power generating station at the Civic Center.

Solar panels would be installed on covered parking structures for the Community Center and Town Hall.

The installation would be similar to the construction at the Safeway parking lot in Fountain Hills.

Miller said new technology and battery storage would allow all power generated to be used at town facilities. He added that a lease purchase option is also a possibility.

Staff has included $50,000 at a budget place holder for the project.

The capital plan continues to have $100,000 included for a design concept report for full widening of Fountain Hills Boulevard.

Miller said this report would determine an estimated cost and construction could be included in a future bond proposal.

This is separate from a project slated to begin this week to construct paved shoulders over the same stretch of roadway. The shoulder project could help reduce construction costs of a full four-lane expansion.

Additional items comprising the capital plan include $255,000 for paving the next phase of the unpaved alley paving project. The proposal includes a stretch between Colony Drive and Colony Wash. The alley paving project is to help comply with air quality requirements.

The town has included $40,000 of CIP funding for a $130,000 design concept report for widening work on Shea Boulevard between the Scottsdale City Line and Technology Drive. The design concept would cost $130,000 with $90,000 as grant funding. This is potentially a $3 million construction project with $1 million from the town.

Staff is asking to increase funding to $200,000 for sidewalk infill projects. Miller said there are favorable concrete contacts and they believe that should get as much done as they can.

Staff proposed $50,000 for a traffic signal design for the intersection of Palisades Boulevard and Palomino/Eagle Ridge Drive. This is expected to be needed at the time of completion of the CopperWynd Resort expansion. The resort is expected to participate in the cost of installing the signal. Council members told staff to hold off on the study until it is necessary, probably a couple of years out yet.

There is $50,000 set aside for continuation of a project to install video surveillance cameras, particularly in park areas.

There is $335,000 included in the capital plan to continue improvements to Four Peaks Park.

Traffic management upgrades for the Avenue of the Fountains intersections at La Montana and Verde River drives are also in the budget allowing for a total of $950,000. This is money from the Downtown Strategy Fund. These projects are being re-evaluated for design.

Capital expenditures, but separate from the CIP plan, include nine vehicles totaling $416,149. There are two Gator-type vehicles, two Bobcat-type loaders and a utility sweeper requested for parks. The street department items include a heavy duty Freightliner truck, a pickup, a front-end loader and heavy debris sweeper.

The funding would come from the Vehicle Replacement Fund and HURF.

The council is expected to further review the proposals with potential changes made during the budget process.