Council to look at major city projects

Capital improvement projects over the next 10 years will be the subject of a public hearing as part of Wednesday's Yuma City Council meeting.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Yuma City Hall Council Chambers, One City Plaza.

The draft fiscal year 2009-2018 Capital Improvement Program provides a prioritized 10-year schedule of recommended capital improvements to the city's infrastructure such as roadway improvements, public safety projects and new recreation facilities.

Each year the city council brushes off the list, looking at projects in progress, those that are soon-to-start and projects that are a ways off.

The coming fiscal year's recommended projects come with a price tag of $172 million. That's down from $285 million for the current fiscal year's projects.

Less money is available as a result of the nationwide economic slowdown, said Paul Brooberg, city engineer. A number of grants the city anticipated "aren't there anymore." And the city is taking a conservative approach to new bonding it might seek. Also, a big project, the construction of the Agua Viva Water Treatment Plant, is nearly completed.

There really aren't any surprises on the draft list of projects for the coming year, said Brooberg. Recommendations reflect the council's "top 10 list."

"There are a number of projects out there that will be a year closer to starting or finishing. And we hope to get some big street projects completed and behind us."

A priority in the draft plan is completing the Agua Viva plant and water transmission lines, he said.

The list also includes a number of major street improvement projects that either are under way or will be started in the coming months, Brooberg said.

They include work on Avenue 3E, Avenue A between 16th and 24th streets, improvements to 32nd Street between Avenues A and B, and 16th Street from Arizona Avenue to Yuma Palms Parkway. Meanwhile, the widening and reconstruction of 24th Street in front of Gila Ridge High School is expected to be completed by fall.

Building the joint city-school pool complex at Cibola High School is at the top of the list for recreational projects, Brooberg said.

As for public safety projects, it's nearly time for a grand opening of the new Fire Station No. 6 at Pinto Way and 32nd Street, and modifications to the police department facility are nearing completion, he said. With those two projects winding down, plans are in the works to start a new fire department training facility at 36th Street and Avenue 4E.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.