Carlsbad City Council approves capital project plan

A guide for long term capital planning and budgeting for the City of Carlsbad was approved by the City Council Tuesday night.

Fifty-five projects were part of the City’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP), said Angie Barrios-Testa director of municipal services for the City of Carlsbad.

The ICIP helps the city develop a five-year strategy for spending priorities.

“We went through a ranking process with a set criterion,” she said.

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The top five projects on the list should cost the city around $7.6 million, according to a city document.

The reconstruction of Radio Boulevard from Standpipe Road to the Carlsbad City Limits was the No. 1 priority on the list with a cost of $1.5 million.

Lighting upgrades to the runway at Cavern City Air Terminal was No. 2 at a cost of $480,000.

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Design and construction of a sewer line along Old Cavern Highway from Farris Street to Chapman Road was No. 3 with a cost of $2.7 million.

Plans to design and rebuild the Bataan Sanitary Sewer Lift Station was No. 4 at $1,500,000 and a heavy rescue truck for the Carlsbad Fire Department was No. 5 at $1,200,000. 

“I am constantly scanning grant opportunities,” Barrios-Testa said. “It’s hard to put all the projects at No. 1.”

Public meetings were held earlier this year to allow input from the public on the projects and priorities. 

On July 23, councilors were asked to review the list of priorities and make changes.

“No additional changes were received,” Barrios-Testa said.

Ward 3 City Councilor Jason Shirley complimented staffers for creating the ICIP.

“Our staff always does a good job of ranking, we hope we can get some funds for some of those projects,” he said.

The deadline to submit the ICIP to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (NMDFA) is Sept. 6.

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Money approved for street projects

Councilors voted Tuesday night to accept $850,000 from the State to fund improvements for Kircher Street.

The project includes engineering and construction of Kircher from Boyd Drive to National Parks Highway.

K.C. Cass, City of Carlsbad’s director of projects, said curb and gutter work and making the street complaint with the American’s with Disabilities Act is part of the project.

Councilors also accepted $600,000 for an extensive storm drain project from Canal Street west to Fox Street.

The drainage would run from Halagueno Street from the intersection with Fox Street to Greene Street and east word along Greene Street to the existing storm drain on Canal Street.

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“It’s pretty much needed out there,” Cass said. “It’s a huge step in the right way and we don’t have to financially commit.

“It’s a complex issue as far as drainage goes.”

The project should alleviate street along Halgueño Street in front of the Carlsbad Public Library and the Carlsbad Museum and Art Center, read a city council document.

Timelines for the construction projects were not yet released.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.