SEBASTIAN — After a three-hour marathon meeting at Town Hall, the Sebastian Planning and Zoning Commission recommended City Manager Al Minner’s proposed six-year capitol improvement program.
Improvements to Sebastian’s buildings, infrastructure, ballparks, Sebastian Municipal Golf Course and Sebastian Municipal Airport will happen through the fiscal year of 2017, according to the plan. The capital improvement program will be discussed at length at the City Council meeting Aug. 10.
Proposed projects slated for 2011-12 feature $325,000 in improvements to US 1. These will include new signage at the north and south entrances of the city, the addition of crosswalks, and improved parking spaces.
“We hope to create more of an ambiance for downtown on US 1,” Minner said. “We also hope to highlight those parking areas with 75 improved spots. We hope to reduce the speed limit in that area so it will function more like a main street area in that corridor.”
This was just a portion of the $1.9 million in projects that were proposed by Minner Thursday evening. Over $1.4 million Public Works Department projects were also purposed.
Road improvements, airport runway improvements, storm drainage improvements, and improved shelter for spectators to go with improved drainage to the baseball fields at the Barber Street Sports Complex are all slated for next year.
The cost and effectiveness of the $500,000 quarter-round project sparked some debate between Minner and committee member Greg Hepler.
“I’m sorry, but I just don’t see the benefit in the plastic being put into the ground,” Hepler said. “It made my yard hard to mow, and I don’t see the benefit in the money that’s spent without getting some sort of itemized list without explaining why you’re spending that much money.”
Minner acknowledged how the project made lawn mowing more difficult, but insisted the good of the project far outweighted the bad.
“I think we’ve all seen benefits to the quarter-round project. We’ve done it throughout the community and it has helped. It is a system which got positive results with a minimal amount of money. The ditch and swale system wasn’t working and when we went in to clean out ditches in the past, it took considerable man-hours and cost the City a lot of money.”
Improvements to Washington, Cleveland, and Martin Street in Sebastian’s redevelopment area will run $310,000, and for boaters on the Indian River, a mooring field is expected be installed for $50,000.
The Sebastian Police Department has requested $185,000 to replace police cruisers, an amount less than the usual request of $380,000. Instead of replacing 10 cars this year, the department has opted to get more mileage out of some of their older cruisers approaching 100,000 miles.
“We’re starting to trim back the swapping out of police cars through maintenance,” Minner said. “We believe our vehicle staffing is good, so that has helped provide funds for other capital purchases.”
The 2012-13 fiscal year will be much more pricey for Sebastian, as the capital improvement plan calls for a $4.7 million budget. Almost $3.2 million of that will be poured into the airport in the form of the creation of new taxiways and the installation of new lighting.
Another $750,000 will be put into the creation of parking spots on Jackson Street.
