Councilmembers on Oct. 9 pressed administration to pair the newly updated Safe Routes to School plan with concrete local funding. Finance Director Toppin and Public Works staff told council the operating budget and capital plan are ready for amendment and asked for direction on priorities.

Councilman McIntyre urged the city to budget $1 million per year for sidewalk gap-filling and other high-priority pedestrian projects identified in the travel plan, saying the city should not rely solely on grants. Public Works Director Mike Jones and Finance Director Toppin said staff would prepare a list of priority sidewalk projects and cost comparisons for contracting versus hiring additional inspection or engineering capacity.

Councilmembers also discussed Echo Road stormwater remedies identified in a recent study. Staff said one component could be advanced next year with an estimated construction cost of roughly $150,000; the work would require permanent storm-sewer easements from three private properties and coordination with the neighboring municipality (Mineral Falls) where discharge would occur. Jones cautioned that right-of-way acquisition can delay construction and that some projects that require easements often take multiple years to reach construction.

Procedural actions: council members agreed to table an earlier capital ordinance (2025-147) to allow amendments; the council asked administration to draft amendments that would add a $150,000 Echo Road stormwater line item and provide options to invest roughly $1 million per year in sidewalk projects, with a plan and cost estimates ready for the Oct. 23 council meeting. The council also requested cost comparisons for contracting inspection services versus hiring additional staff.

"If we invest a million dollars a year, it would take us 10 years to accomplish this," McIntyre said, estimating the total work identified in the plan could be on the order of several million dollars. Staff said some high-priority sidewalk projects do not require right-of-way and could proceed faster; projects requiring easements or right-of-way would take longer.