CARLSBADCARLSBAD — Carlsbad is considering a new way to handle the city’s capital improvement program by switching from a 15-year plan to a five–year focus.
The change is needed in part because, as the city nears its expected build-out and growth slows, there will be less money collected from developer fees to pay for big projects such as new parks, buildings and other infrastructure needs.
“We are transitioning from a growth city to one focused on maintenance,” City Manager Scott Chadwick said at Tuesday’s Carlsbad City Council meeting. “The needs of our community are changing.”
Chadwick proposed changing the way Carlsbad plans, prioritizes and funds its capital improvement projects. His presentation was the first of several upcoming public discussions related to the city’s 2024-24 budget before it goes to the City Council for approval in June.
Capital projects require significant financial investment and lengthy planning, design and construction time. The funding for them generally comes from different sources than the sales taxes, property taxes and service fees that provide most of the city’s general fund revenue.
For example, the city’s Alga Norte Park, a 32-acre complex with an aquatics center, three sports fields, a skate park and more opened at the end of 2013 more than 15 years after getting the go-ahead, ending with costs of about $40 million.
“The final construction cost was very different from what we originally estimated,” said Craddock Stropes, senior management analyst.
Focusing on a five-year horizon will provide a more accurate estimate of project costs and give the City Council more opportunities to revise plans when needs or circumstances change, she said.
The proposed “just in time” funding program is expected to provide more accurate cost estimates and timelines, along with better opportunities for the council to evaluate proposed projects in light of current needs and priorities.
Council members generally supported the idea. Councilmember Carolyn Luna called it a “good move” and said it would make it easier for the city to change course on a project that becomes too costly.
Mayor Keith Blackburn said he would support the change, but asked staffers to prepare a better explanation of how it works to make the new process more clear to the public.
