Petersburg City Manager, William E. Johnson, III and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) committee chaired by the Director of Planning and Community Development, Michelle Peters gave the final recommendations for the CIP to Petersburg City Council on Tuesday, September 30 during a special City Council work session.
Recommended projects include the purchase of new fire apparatus, critical maintenance to existing buildings, upgrade to emergency equipment and other critical repairs to historic facilities. The CIP committee is responsible, at the direction of the Planning Commission, to review the project request and cost from City departments and agencies. As part of that process the committee interviews Directors, Constitutional Officers and Public Schools personnel to understand the necessity of the request. The requests are ranked based on priorities established by the Mayor and Council.
The full CIP amount is $53.7 million and includes a proposed new City Hall and new school. The City Hall has been proposed for 2017-2018 and the school for 2018-2019.
“This CIP is the right step for the City to continue moving forward,” comments Johnson. “The delaying of a new city hall is vital for the city to complete some other much needed projects. Also it gives us the opportunity to improve our bond rating and financial status.”
The CIP overall includes new construction, major repairs, replacements, land acquisitions, major equipment purchases and feasibility studies. The final CIP will be voted on by City Council during the regular City Council session on Tuesday, October 14, after the public hearing.