At a recent workshop and subsequent meeting, staff presented Milford City Council with an overview of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the upcoming year. The CIP is not a budget, but a document used by staff to seek funding for projects the city is considering, prioritizing them as to importance.
“The five-year capital plan serves as a tool for strategic planning and a resource allocation within the city,” City Manager Chris Coleman said. “Each year, the plan is reviewed and updated to ensure that it accurately reflects the city’s evolving priorities and capital requirements. The annual process not only provides a comprehensive overview of ongoing upcoming capital projects but also allows for adjustments based on emerging needs and changes in project status.”
Coleman explained that staff evaluated projects scheduled not only for the current year but those planned for future years. As city priorities change, projects may be expedited or postponed, allowing for a flexible approach that keeps residents informed. The CIP document provided to council showed over $44 million in prior authorized projects. For 2027, just over $18 million in projects were recommended. Over the next five years, $110.1 million in projects were proposed. Councilman Jason James asked Coleman to explain the funding for the prior authorization projects.
“If a project is approved, let’s say for Fiscal 27, the authority by council carries through June 2030, three years,” Coleman said. “If they are not funded, they will expire. There are some projects that fallen off the CIP. One is the City Hall project where funds were used for something else. Another is the Marshall Pond project that was cut off to fund other general fund reserve projects. The projects that were approved but diverted elsewhere and those that are naturally expiring and have fallen off will be included in the summary that we share before the final CIP is presented.”
Each director presented details on the projects in their respective CIP sections. At the regular meeting, Councilwoman Madula Kalesis asked what the initial budget was for the Milford Corporate Center. Finance Director explained that the initial budget was $24 million in the 2024 CIP. Kalesis pointed out that the current CIP showed a budget of $38 million. Vitola explained that the $24 million was for the first two phases and the project costs were expected to increase with additional phases.
“It has grown and some of that growth is related to the DelDOT traffic improvements,” Vitola said. “We are getting grant funding for those, but the costs have increased.”
James pointed out that the CIP was a five-year plan that was required to be submitted to and approved by council, but that did not mean everything in the plan would automatically be added to the budget. One of the items included in the Parks and Recreation budget was a recreation center which would be constructed in Marvel Square. The center was included in the 2029 budget at a cost of $8 million.
“We have talked about it, we have mentioned it and everyone seemed excited about it,” Councilwoman Katrina Wilson said. “I’m not sure how to prioritize it or move it up, because it is way out. When I first ran for council a very long time ago, I ran on building a community center. I am getting old and I’ve been saying this a long time. God willing, I will still be here to see this finally happen, but if there is a way to prioritize it, I would appreciate it.”
Vitola stated that if $50,000 could be allocated in this fiscal year, they could begin with the engineering and planning of the center.
“I concur with Lou,” Parks and Recreation Director Brad Dennehy said. “If we can get funds allocated for the feasibility study, on July 3rd, we will hit the ground running, get a consultant and start moving forward. It has been listed as a medium high priority so we will raise this to the front of the list.”
Vitola asked if council could approve the CIP prior to the budget process. Mayor Todd Culotta stated that although he understood staff would like to have the CIP approved prior to putting together the budget, he felt that budget hearings would be the time for council and the public to comment on items in the CIP.
“I would also say wait as we have new council members coming in,” Kalesis said. “I would like for them to have the opportunity to look at the CIP and vote on it.”
Coleman reminded council that the councilperson for Ward 3 would not be seated until after budget hearings, but Nina Pletcher, who will be sworn in on May 4, would be able to provide input into the CIP.
The CIP will be presented during budget hearings. Dates for those hearings have not been announced but are normally held in May or June.
