City Council Reluctantly Approves Capital Improvements Plan

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

May 25, 2010

Monday evening the Falls Church City Council approved the budget for the FY 2011 Capital Improvements Plan and a related resolution covering the years FY 2012-15.  The CIP for the coming fiscal year will be funded primarily through federal and state grants and the local funding matches necessary to activate the grants.  The extended program, which is non-binding, would require debt financing to achieve its major objectives.

Although the measures passed unanimously, both clearly were constrained by the City’s financial situation.  Councilman Dave Snyder referred to the FY 2011 program as driven “by extreme necessity; we have no choice.”   Councilman Nader Baroukh concurred, stating that “the decision was made last year when we had the shortfall.”

Councilman Dan Maller, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Gardner and Vice Mayor Lippman, seemed initially reluctant to vote on the CIP, going so far as to ask City Attorney John Foster the consequences of deferring a vote on either measure.  Mr. Foster advised that under the City’s charter such plans must be approved within 28 days of the passage of the budget and that Monday therefore was the deadline for such action.  He further stated that if a vote were delayed, any program subsequently adopted would likely be void.

Prior to passage of the extended CIP the Council amended the resolution to include language stating that the plan would be subject to periodic review.

Before the vote Mr. Maller stated, “We’re all disappointed . . . I recognize the great fiscal uncertainties that are facing the City right now, and I hope that by establishing an ongoing process we can address the lack of  a true long range plan .  .  .  I was prepared to not vote in favor of this, but I think we’ve established a very large placeholder and on that basis and on the basis that we’re going to have a continuing process, I’m prepared to support it.”

Most of the FY 2011 funding is for storm water management improvements.  The extended plan calls for $30 million for school construction (FY 2014), $10 million for City Hall renovations (mostly in FY 2013), and $1.6 million for storm water improvements (spread over four years, the majority set for FY 2012-13).  Some observers have estimated that the school costs could be as high as $50 million.

The related documents on the FY 2011 plan and that for the following years are available as part of last night’s meeting agenda on the City’s website.