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Alpharetta plans $3.7M in capital projects
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City Council considered a budget June 1 that contains $7.7 million for capital initiatives, but the straining economy has Mayor Arthur Letchas and the budget team planning to hold $4 million in reserve.
Most of the $3.7 million budgeted for specific capital projects would be used for scheduled maintenance and replacement of equipment. The nearly $1 million in sidewalk projects might be the only initiatives considered new, though they are extensions of existing sidewalks.
As part of the workshop, Councilwoman Cheryl Oakes wanted to know why several drainage and stormwater projects suggested by the Engineering and Public Works Department weren't part of the budget.
"I don't understand why this wasn't recommended if these items really need to be done and have been requested for some time," she said.
Letchas said that night's budget workshop was the time to talk about those types of issues. He said the Old Roswell Road drainage improvement ($150,000) and the Lantern Ridge Court stormwater improvements ($200,000) could be added if council desired.
"It's called deferred maintenance," Oakes said of delaying the projects, "only it will cost more instead of less."
Letchas said the $4 million held in reserve for capital projects could be used to fund those projects. But he also said the council could think of it another way.
"These are future projects. If they still maintain priority, they are future – those two right there could be added to the list."
Councilman John Monson said he was concerned that if council added the $350,000 in projects, it might start adding even more.
"But if we are going to go candy store shopping, it's going to get up to $1 million in 5 minutes," Monson said.
Councilman David Belle Isle said everything in the capital budget is reasonable, but after examining the budget over the next week, the council may prioritize things differently
The city is on a deadline, the mayor said.
"This is June 1. We've got to have it by June 30. We will need to get real serious as far as prioritizing," Letchas said.
Councilman D.C. Aiken said that out of five pages of capital initiatives, four of them make up 42 percent of the funds. He said he didn't think the council could make a decision that evening.
"I think we'll find it extremely difficult to find $350,000 to cut out of what is approved here," he said.
Some "nickel and dime stuff" could be taken out, but not enough for the drainage and stormwater projects, he said. Council will have to decide in the coming weeks if they want to replace some projects with the two stormwater jobs, cut into its $4 million in capital reserves or not fund the two projects at all, Aiken said.
Other budget highlights:
► Almost $1 million is planned for sidewalks in projects on Mid-Broadwell and Webb Bridge Roads. Another $465,000 is planned to continue to fix drainage problems in North Park so silt doesn't continue to clog a pond once it is dredged.
► The Public Safety Department would use approximately $510,000, with most of the funds buying 12 fully equipped police cars, a yearly scheduled replacement.
► Road improvements would use almost $700,000 of the capital funds. A roundabout on Douglas Road at South Lake Drive would help solve a traffic problem at the cost of $300,000. The state Department of Transportation reduced funding for right of way along Westside Parkway, so another $275,000 would help buy that land.
► Seventy Bradford Pear trees planted in medians on North Point and Windward parkways will be removed using another $120,000. The DOT requires the removal because these trees are susceptible to breakage in storms, and they grow larger than what is safe. The city will use $25,000 to plant new trees through the Tree Replacement Fund.
► Just maintaining traffic signals, striping roads and replacing signage adds another $375,000 to the capital budget.
Tags: Alpharetta, Alpharetta City Council
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