Workshops will rank capital projects
Published in The Islander News November 26, 2008. kjosephsen@islanderews.com
Local officials urge residents to shake off their turkey hangovers next week and join elected leaders in prioritizing capital projects ranging from Community Center expansion to buried power lines.
The Village Council is holding a workshop Tuesday, December 2, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers to start drafting a five-year Capital Improvements Plan.
"Public input is very important because we're discussing those things that really represent quality of life issues. Their input and participation is critical," remarked Village Manager Chip Iglesias, who proposed the CIP when he started as Manager last fall.
The CIP will provide a list of projects, along with cost projections and possible funding sources, for the Key to complete over the next five years. Most imminently, it will be used to help the Council distribute about $3 million worth of capital funds in the fiscal year 2008 budget.
Overall, Iglesias hopes the plan will lead to better planning and smarter allocation of resources.
By looking five years into the future, he explained, the CIP will allow the Council to set aside funding a little bit at a time for projects that don't need to be done right away. "It gives us a game plan so we have the money in place when we're ready to execute projects," he said.
That means one of the biggest tasks facing the Council is prioritization. "Obviously, we have more needs than funding available, so some things will have to be put on hold," Iglesias explained. "There's only so much money to go around. We'll have to make hard decisions on how to move forward."
That means one of the biggest tasks facing the Council is prioritization. "Obviously, we have more needs than funding available, so some things will have to be put on hold," Iglesias explained. "There's only so much money to go around. We'll have to make hard decisions on how to move forward."
Doing so may mean making unpopular choices, he warned, as the list of possible projects is lengthy.
Village CIP consultants met with the directors of all five departments — Building, Zoning and Planning, Fire-Rescue, Parks and Recreation, Police and Public Works —to pinpoint foreseeable needs. They also reviewed existing documents, such as the 2020 Vision Plan, to generate a list of infrastructure projects.
The result, said Iglesias, is a lengthy list that ranges from inevitable facility and equipment needs like new Fire-Rescue vehicles, replacing air conditioning systems in Village buildings and updating technology; to major infrastructure projects like buried power lines and finishing the sewer and water installation.
The Manager noted two big-ticket projects the Council has already said are more-or-less necessities — expanding the Community Center and beach renourishment — are also up for discussion; as are expensive undertakings like buying land for parks and open space, improving the Village Green and developing Village-owned land at 530 Crandon Boulevard.
Less costly but still important initiatives like improving Calusa Park, adding street lighting and sidewalks, upgrading Village signage and more are also part of the CIP, Iglesias added.
Iglesias stressed the December 2 meeting is just the start of the process, a "sort of rollup-your-sleeves working meeting" in which officials will explain each project and answer questions from Council members and the public. The Council will not vote on anything next week, the Manager stressed, and there will likely be several follow-up public meetings.
Plus, although Iglesias hopes the lengthy public process unites the community behind the CIP, he noted the document can be amended in the future as Key Biscayne's needs and priorities evolve.
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