DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Community Bond Committee Recommendations for Proposed 2017 - 2022 Bond Program
SUMMARY:
On December 15, 2016 City Council approved a Resolution making the necessary prerequisite declarations of 13 areas to be included hereinafter in a City Council approved Urban Renewal Plan associated with the 2017 Neighborhood Improvements Bond Proposition. The proposed $20 million Neighborhood Improvements Bond Proposition was one component of the $850 million Bond package that will go forward for public vote on May 6, 2017.
The remaining four Community Bond Committees appointed by the Mayor and City Councilmembers to serve in an advisory capacity in the development of the City’s Proposed 2017 - 2022 Bond Program will present their project recommendations totaling $830 million to the City Council for their consideration during the January 11, 2017 B- Session.
The Community Bond Committee recommendations were developed within a two-month long public input process that included 30 meetings consisting of 25 public Community Bond Meetings and five Community Bond Tours. During this public input process, more than 1,400 residents were in attendance at the meetings and almost 350 resident comments were made. Each of the Community Bond Committees will be recommending:
• Streets, Bridges & Sidewalks: 63 projects totaling $450 million
• Drainage & Flood Control: 19 projects totaling $144 million
• Parks & Recreation: 64 projects totaling $116 million
• Facilities: 28 projects totaling $120 million
City Council will discuss the Community Bond Committee recommendations in preparation for their adoption of a final list of projects for the Proposed Bond Program during the January 19, 2017 City Council Meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In March 2016, City Council was presented with a recommendation that the development of the 2017 - 2022 Bond Program follow the 2012 - 2017 Bond Program development model which included the utilization of Community Bond Committees. The Committees served in an advisory capacity with the responsibility of recommending to the City Council capital improvements projects to consider for possible inclusion within the Bond Program.
In August 2016, staff also recommended and presented to City Council a list of guiding principles to be used in the selection of projects for the Proposed 2017 - 2022 Bond Program. The guiding principles included the consideration of rough proportionality to help ensure that projects are distributed throughout the City.
At the September 28, 2016, B-Session, City Council approved the development of the proposed $850 million Bond Program with the allocation and creation of five committees to review the five infrastructure categories, including 1) Streets, Bridges & Sidewalks; 2) Drainage & Flood Control; 3) Parks & Recreation; 4) Facilities and 5) Neighborhood Improvements. Each committee consists of two co-chairs, appointed by the Mayor and a total of 30 committee members, with each City Councilmember appointing three of the members for each committee.
Over the past two months, each Bond Committee met to review and discuss initial staff recommended projects. The meetings also provided citizens an opportunity to comment on the recommended projects and provide suggestions for other projects for the Committees’ consideration.
ISSUE:
The remaining four Community Bond Committees will present their project recommendations totaling $830 million to the City Council for their consideration during the January 11, 2017 B-Session.
The Community Bond Committee meetings allowed each of the Bond Committees to develop a recommended list of bond projects and areas for City Council consideration. When developing the Committee recommendations, each of the Bond Committees were guided by City staff recommended and approved guiding principles including “rough proportionality.” The final Committee recommendations along with the funds projected for improvements within the Five Year Infrastructure Management Program and the developing Five Year Parks Maintenance Program continue to maintain rough proportionality throughout the City.
City Council will take Bond Committee recommendations into consideration. Adoption of a final listing of Bond recommended projects, by proposition for the proposed 2017 Bond program is scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2017 City Council Meeting. Final approval of the Ordinance calling the Bond Program Election is scheduled for the Thursday, February 9, 2017 City Council Meeting. The $850 million 2017 - 2022 Bond Program would then be scheduled to be placed on the ballot for citizen consideration during the May 6th General Election.
All Community Bond Committee meeting schedules, agendas, meeting minutes and additional information regarding the Community Bond Committees and the City’s 2017 - 2022 Proposed Bond Program is available on-line at <http://www.sanantonio.gov/2017Bond>.
ALTERNATIVES:
The B-Session has been scheduled for City Council to receive and discuss the respective Community Bond Committees’ recommendations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City maintains a comprehensive long-term Debt Management Plan for its property tax supported debt program. The City has planned for bond authorizations every five years at an approximately similar size to the 2012 bond election of $596 million. The City’s proposed $850 million general obligation bond election planned for May 2017 is consistent with the City’s Debt Management Plan and does not require a debt service tax rate increase for the amortization period of the debt.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council receive from the Community Bond Committee and approve a final list of $830 million in projects for the City’s proposed 2017 - 2022 General Obligation Bond Program.