Public Hearing - Adopt Resolution #15-02-033 Adopting the City of Ramsey's 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

Purpose:  The 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a strategic planning tool to assist the City Council in identifying proposed capital improvement projects over the next five years.  The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a long-term financial plan of at least five years that consists of projects and facilities that are, or will be needed by the City in carrying out the future needs for the public health, safety and welfare of the City. The City's charter directs that a five-year capital improvement plan will be adopted annually. The CIP has been prepared in an attempt to anticipate major capital expenditures in advance of the year in which they are budget requests. Further, several projects may interrelate or require other improvements prior to initiation which would cause delays without prior planning. Additionally, projects may require budgeting over several years or receipt of funds from other sources (i.e. grants) requiring planning completion prior to the funding year. Finally, the plan enables a snapshot of the identified capital needs of the community allowing for continual prioritization of these needs. Approval of the CIP by Council does not authorize spending or initiation of a given project. It does, however, provide a guide for the community for a whole array of private and public decision-making, impacted by public capital expenditures. Therefore, the CIP should receive ratification only if the Council perceives actions contemplated within the plan as reasonable and planned within justified time frames. It shall further be noted that initial project design of public infrastructure projects identified within this plan often begins two years or more prior to the date of construction.  Also, the CIP reflects priorities for projects and equipment that have been identified as priorities in the City's adopted Strategic Plan. The CIP is not intended to provide for precise budgeting. Capital costs are projected as estimates. Upon each update of the plan, deletions, additions, delays, or other revisions may occur, reflecting changing community needs. These changes allow for budget refinements as a particular project nears actual construction. The plan does not contain a specific designation which denotes project priorities. There is no weighting or matching of priorities between infrastructure types [streets, parks, utilities, building facilities] as each type of project generally has a funding source unique to the project type and from which funds cannot be reallocated.  The project number as outlined in the plan is applicable to when the project was first placed in the CIP.  For example, project #06-BLDG-001 - A public works campus has been in the CIP since 2006. Each project includes preliminary funding sources and appropriate background information citing needs and projected cost estimates.  A supplemental section titled 'Future Consideration Projects' has also been included.  This is a listing of park projects that are prioritized by need and contingent upon availability of resources.  These projects are unfunded and unscheduled until resources become available.

The draft document of the 2015-2019 was brought to the City Council at its January 27, 2015 worksessions.  Some slight modifications were recommended to the plan and they have been incorporated in the document that is attached.

The request for the public hearing was adopted at the regular City Council meeting of January 27, 2015 and the notice was posted in the Union.

Options:
1.  Adopt Plan as outlined noting that this is a planning tool only and not the authorization of any one project listed.
2. Take no Action at this time for further review of each project. Per the City Charter, a five-year Capital Improvement
    Program (CIP) needs to be adopted annually.
 

Each project contained within the 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Program states the respective funding source(s).

Staff recommends Option #1 to adopt the 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan that is attached noting that this is a forecasting tool and not actual, committed projects and expenditures.

Motion to adopt Resolution #15-02-033 adopting the City of Ramsey's 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).