Carlsbad council OKs capital, operating budgets

| Tuesday, June 17, 2003 10:00 PM PDT ∞

TIM MAYER
Staff Writer

CARLSBAD ---- The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $196.1 million capital improvement plan and a $142.6 million operating budget for

the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The capital improvement plan includes $55.5 million in new street, road, parks and other projects and $105.6 million for ongoing projects that were

budgeted, but not completed, in previous years.

It also includes $35 million the council unanimously approved shifting from general fund reserves to help pay for projects and land purchases

approved by voters under Proposition C in November.

The proposition authorizes the city to spend reserves for open space and trails, a second city swim complex, a city training facility, and extension

of Cannon Road.

The shift will leave the city with about $55 million in general fund reserves at the end of next fiscal year, city Finance Director Lisa Hildabrand

estimated.

Residents on Tuesday continued to urge the council to commit $10 million of the reserve money to buy open space and wildlife habitat before it can be

developed.

"There are lots of risks from saving too little land," said Carolyn Martus, representing the North County Open Space Coalition. "We can't go back and

change our minds after it is developed. We urge you to consider it ($10 million) as an investment."

Karen Merrill of Preserve Calavera said almost 4,000 signatures have been gathered on petitions supporting preservation of open space and "we urge

you to listen to our voices. Today's and tomorrow's residents of Carlsbad will thank you."

The council made no decision Tuesday on how it will spend the reserves set aside for Proposition C. It is due to discuss Proposition C priorities

during a workshop starting at 11 a.m. today at the city's Faraday Center, Room 173 A, 1635 Faraday Avenue.

In other action, the council also approved speeding up plans for the new swim complex to be built at Alga Norte Park as well as a new seven-acre

downtown park on Pine Avenue, both top priorities among residents.

The swim complex at Alga Norte, which had not been scheduled for construction until 2007-08, will be moved up to fiscal year 2004-05. The Pine Avenue

park now set for 2005-06 will be slated for construction next fiscal year.

Of the $55.5 million in other new capital project funding approved, some 42.8 percent or $23.8 million will be targeted at street improvements

including Rancho Santa Fe Road, widening of sections of El Camino Real, and repaving of older streets.

The second biggest slice, 20.1 percent or $11.1 million, would go to new parks. The 32-acre Alga Norte Park in southeast Carlsbad is the largest. It

would include baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, tot lots, a skateboard park, picnic areas, a dog park and an extensive trail system.

Some $11.9 million would be budgeted for sewer projects with another $4.6 million for water projects.

Revenue for capital improvement projects, with the exception of the general fund reserves added Tuesday, comes chiefly from a variety of fees charged

developers and new construction, special tax districts, water and sewer fees, as well as government grants and bonds.

The general fund revenue is made up chiefly from sales, property and hotel taxes.

The new operating budget is a 1.7 percent or $2.4 million hike from this year's estimated $140.2 million.

City officials have said it is a "hold-the-line" spending plan whose goal is to maintain city services while keeping costs down.

Virtually no new employees will be added, except for those needed to maintain new facilities such as Carrillo Ranch Park which opens this summer.

Contact staff writer Tim Mayer at (760) 901-4043 or tmayer@nctimes.com.

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