City Council Recap, May 23

At the May 23 City Council meeting, City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba presented a $689 million recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The recommended budget maintains the current City property tax rate of 66.25 cents per $100 property valuation and proposes an increase to the monthly solid waste fee from $2.50 to $3.50 and household hazardous waste monthly fees from $0.60 to $0.97 to help offset contracted service cost increases.

Learn more about the recommended budget on the City's website.

In the General Business Agenda, Council approved a $5 million contract with Yates Construction for the Greene Street Streetscape Project, which will include roadway improvements, storm drainage and utility improvements. Work is expected to begin in July 2022 and be completed in December 2023.

More than $45 million was allocated to Water Resources infrastructure projects, including the Camp Burton Lift Station and sewer construction project that will provide water and sewer services to a previously underserved area near Huffine Mill Road. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2022 and take about two years to complete. Council also authorized the sale and issuance of up to $96 million in bonds to refinance short and long-term bonds and to issue new bonds to fund additional water and sewer projects that are currently under contract.

Lastly, Council approved a contract for demolition of Heritage House, a residential tower that was certified as blighted by the Planning Board in 2014. As part of the City's Redevelopment Plan, it's necessary to demolish the residential building for future development of the site.