Mayor Donna Deegan puts $399 million of first year projects into capital improvement budget

Mayor Donna Deegan presented her first budget and capital improvement plan Monday, continuing projects set by the last administration while adding to infrastructure projects, arts initiatives and the public safety budget.

Deegan had just over two weeks to present the budget to City Council after her inauguration, and se told council the CIP had “shovel ready” projects to make an impact within the next year.

“This budget reflects the priories of the people,” Deegan said Monday. “It invests their money in ways that will create more opportunities to live, earn, learn and love with a good quality of life. It is intentional. It keeps the promises of the past and builds a city of the future.”

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The CIP details projects throughout the city ranging from fire and police station improvements to art installations and library updates. It predicts costs up to five years out and is updated annually.

Deegan said the CIP totaled $406 million in her address, but her office later corrected that some projects were taken out because they were set to start during the next fiscal year. Instead, her Communications Director Phil Perry said the $399 million comes from $361 million of general projects, $11 million of stormwater improvement projects, $1.5 million in solid waste improvement projects and $25 million coming from the general fund for UF Health capital improvements.

Some projects listed in the full CIP, such as a $244 million replacement to the Duval County Jail, are still hypothetical and listed as “beyond five years” from now, as Deegan has not committed to moving the downtown jail.

Others are scheduled for within the next year, such as the combined $5 million set to turn Julia and Monroe Streets downtown into two-way roads.

Projects from the last administration, such as the $500,000 allotted for action on Confederate monuments, will roll over from last year.

Deegan also set aside $20 million for future capital improvement projects, as well as a $3 million contingency fund.

Here are the projects with $10 million or higher in funding in Deegan’s first CIP:

Fire station construction and improvements

$31.7 million total for fire station improvements throughout the city, including three new construction projects and $3 million toward the Metropolitan Park Fire Station, museum and dock.

Roadway resurfacing

$26.8 million for resurfacing of city-maintained streets across the city, not including individual roadway projects listed. $27 million is expected for 2024-25.

Stadium Capital Reserve

$20 million as a contingency for capital needs not yet outlined.

Chaffee Road

$15 million for construction of the Westside Road. The CIP last year allotted $5.2 million to start construction that would widen the road to four lanes from Normandy Boulevard to Interstate 10. $9 million is currently expected for 2024-25.

Wastewater system fund

$17.5 million for the fund set to receive the same amount in 2024-25 and $5 million in 2025-26.

McCoy’s Creek

$22 million is allocated to various projects. $7 million will go toward completing a new channel where McCoys Creek flows into the St. Johns River in the Brooklyn neighborhood. $9 million will go toward rebuilding and raising the bridge over the creek on King Street. An expected $6.8 million will go toward finishing development of greenway along McCoys Creek where it flows into downtown.

La Salle Street Outfall

$15.2 million for the drainage improvement project to build a pump station to move water out of San Marco when rain and high tides cause street flooding. The project got a boost from the state Department of Environmental Protection last year when it awarded the project a $20 million grant.

Metropolitan Park

$13 million for the second phase of CIP funding to the redevelopment of the riverfront park.

Northbank Central Marina

$12.1 million for the project near Metropolitan Park downtown adding a replacement marina, pier, marina support building and surrounding park improvements. The city allocated $15 million last year, and $9 million is estimated for 2024-25.

Liberty Street Marina

$12 million for the second phase of CIP funding dedicated to a public marina for around 50 boats, fuel dock and pump-out station.

Northbank Riverwalk expansion

$10 million to expand the riverwalk from Catherine Street to Metropolitan Park downtown. The expanded walk would pass the Shipyards the city is turning into a park and the relocated MOSH building. The city allocated $5 million to the expansion last year.

Resiliency infrastructure improvements

$10 million for various projects throughout the city. The same amount was allocated last year.

Shipyards West Park

$10 million will go toward the continuation of the 10 acre downtown park which received $5 million in CIP funding last year. Agency Landscape + Planning won the contract to design the park earlier this year.

New Berlin Road

$10 million for changes to New Berlin Road from Cedar Point to Starratt Road.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mayor Deegan puts almost $400 million into Capital Improvement Plan