Capital improvement projects range from a new curb ramp or sidewalk to construction of multimillion- dollar facilities, such as public libraries and cultural centers.
The City identifies potential capital improvement projects using technical assessments of infrastructure condition and need, public input received through individual department’s planning efforts, staff input and requests from City Boards and Commissions. The annual project identification and prioritization process typically begins early in the calendar year with each City department conducting an analysis to identify capital project needs for the next five years. Part of this analysis includes the review of spending plans for completing existing capital projects and programs as well as the allocation of General Obligation bond funding to projects that meet the public purpose of bond propositions approved by voters.
These departmental spending and funding allocation plans are then submitted to the Capital Planning Office and the Budget Office of the Financial and Administrative Services Department, which review the projects and compiles a five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan. The CIP Committee of the Planning Commission regularly reviews the CIP Plan during its development, at which time citizens have the opportunity to provide comments and feedback. The full Planning Commission gives the five-year CIP Plan final approval. The CIP Plan functions as a planning and budgeting tool, and serves as the basis for the City’s annual Capital Budget.