Will Ketchum really build a new city hall? Will the city finally complete a half-finished network of sidewalks? Will parks and recreational facilities be upgraded anytime soon?
Those were some of the pressing questions addressed Monday, Nov. 29, as the Ketchum City Council took its first stab at prioritizing items proposed in a draft capital improvement plan for the city.
Put forth by City Administrator Ron LeBlanc, the proposed capital improvement program is a veritable wish list of projects the city would like to complete between now and the end of 2010. After taking a back seat to other matters since it was drafted in June, the six-year plan this week was finally put before the council for its first round of critique.
LeBlanc said the plan—characterized as a work in progress—cannot be implemented unless the city gets "creative" in finding money to pay for the projects.
The draft plan proposes to spend approximately $28 million over the next six years to improve the city's infrastructure, enhance public parks and expand civic facilities. It tentatively proposes new sidewalks and streetlights in the city center, a new city hall, a large-scale public parking garage and improvements to recreational facilities at Atkinson Park.
Standing in the way, LeBlanc said, is that the city has only about $94,000 specifically set aside for capital improvement projects.
"We don't have the money to do all these projects," he told the council.
However, LeBlanc noted, the city has numerous options for financing capital improvement projects, including general-obligation bonds, franchise taxes, development-impact fees and grants. Perhaps, he said, the city could establish local-improvement districts to install new sidewalks and lighting in the commercial core.
In seeking to prioritize projects proposed for the current fiscal year, council members indicated they are eager to fine tune the plan and start looking for funding.
City Council President Randy Hall said he believes Ketchum—which has an assessed aggregate property value of more than $2 billion—is in a favorable position to seek a bond issue.
Councilwoman Terry Tracy said she wants to ensure the plan includes projects to install public restrooms and a visitor center on city property.
"How can we have a city, a town, without public restrooms?" Tracy asked.
Council members will likely review the plan for a second time later this month.
