IAFF pres. pushes for fire committee

$65.4 million, with the most critical projects determined to be street paving, convention center upgrades, golf course flood remediation, and renovations to public bathrooms and the Ocean Bowl Skate Park.

At a work session on Feb. 14, the majority of council members determined that an $18 million allocation for Baltimore Avenue in fiscal 2024, which was set to come from the sale of municipal bonds, was no longer a need right now and opted to put the project on pause.

Continued from Page 4 for it over and over again to help with these types of issues so when we leave here you have updates of what the fire department is doing, on the progress of new building, updates on staffing.”

After the vote on the contract, Buas suggested that officials look into Whittington’s request by creating a committee, adding a public safety and fire element to the Police Commission meetings, or creating some other similar solution.

Baltimore Avenue, sports complex not funded in FY24

Mauser’s numbers presented Tuesday did not reflect that change, though, and still included $18 million to come from bonds in fiscal 2024, with the remainder of the estimated $44 million total project cost set for funding in fiscal 2028.

The planned burying of utility lines and widening of sidewalks from North Division to 15th streets along the busy downtown corridor has been in the works for years and jumped significantly in price since its inception. The change caused the maority of the council to shy away from funding it at this time, deeming it a “want and not a need.”

Councilman Peter Buas, who was one of the council members in the minority who wanted to keep the project a top priority and bond it this year, declared his position again before Tuesday’s discussion on the overall plan.

He said the street is in “disarray” and chastised his fellow council members for not making the upgrades a priority.

“How are we supposed to convince our partners to invest in us if we refuse to invest in ourselves? How are we going to convince the state to eventually fund a new bridge when it will dump directly into a road that looks the way it does currently?,” Buas asked. “How are we supposed to convince our visitors that we are a first-class resort when we refuse to take a swing on a project that would dramatically improve the interest of our town? And how are we supposed to convince our business partners to invest in their facades when we refuse to create an environment that will encourage commerce on that corridor?”

The comments had no impact on the decision to remove the project from the upcoming bond issue, which

Mauser said he will correct when he brings the final numbers back for approval at a future work session.

Mauser also agreed to remove the $8.1 million allocation in the fiscal 2024 bond issue for land acquisition for a planned sports complex off of Route 50 near Stephen Decatur High School.

James pointed out that the project, which calls for both indoor and outdoor sports facilities on nearly 100 acres, is not far enough along to fund now, and should not be included in this year’s CIP.

The project has hit snags at the county level with the majority of the commissioners nixing all efforts toward development at the beginning of the year. City officials have not changed their position on wanting the project and are floating plans to go it alone.

According to a state study, the project carries a total price tag of $166.9 million. Estimates show that land acquisition is set to cost $8.1 million, with the outdoor facility priced at $67.6 million and the indoor facility costing $91.2 million. The city’s projections assume that 80 percent of the money will come from the state, with the resort to be on the hook for a 20 percent match with room tax or other grants or sponsorships.

With the change James requested, Mauser said he will list both the sports complex and Baltimore Avenue projects under the fiscal 2025 bond issue as placeholders.

The shift changed the total bond amount to less than $8.7 million, a far cry from the nearly $34.8 million originally proposed.

The revised capital improvement plan willbe reduced now to a total more than $30 million, which is more than half of what it would have been with the sports complex and Baltimore Avenue expenses included.

Time To Update

A rendering shows the look of a planned Hyatt West hotel on 16th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The project advanced this week with approvals for parking, variance and landscaping details.