The Highland Village City Council examined its long-term capital improvements plan Tuesday, with its focus on reconstruction of Highland Village Road, new restrooms at Unity Park  and city construction of additional screening walls along FM2499 beyond those planned by the Texas Department of Transportation.  Further out, the city is looking to add parking and make other upgrades at Unity Park and improve recreational opportunities at Copperas Branch Park and nearby Doubletree Ranch, recently acquired by the city.  Beyond five years, the city will consider a $3.3 million multi-purpose pavilion at Unity Park and construction of an approximately $8 million community center with a gymnasium, senior center, teen center, meeting rooms and indoor walking area at a location yet to be determined. 

      The Council accepted the plans, presented by Ken Heerman, City Finance Director, but will take not take formal action to begin implementation until it completes the budget process for the 2010 fiscal year.  Heerman pointed out that the Capital Improvement Plans is a forward looking document subject to annual revision, based on community resources and priorities.  Long term capital improvements will be paid for through a variety of sources, including bond packages already approved by city voters, future bond packages, fund balances in the city budget and outside governmental funding sources like Denton County and the TXDOT. For fiscal year 2009, the major capital improvement is construction of a $4.5 million service center for the public works department. This project, currently in design, will go out for bids this summer with construction to be complete in late fall of 2010, according to Heerman.  The city will also spend approximately $500,000 retrofitting the previous fire station to create a senior center meeting facility.  Both projects are funded through bond issues approved by voters in 2008.

   For Fiscal Year 2010, major projects in the CIP include $1.7 million reconstruction of Highland Village Road, to be paid for by Denton County, $120,000 for restroom and parking upgrades at Unity Park, $150,000 for FM2499 Screening Walls and $190,000 for traffic signals. An area of major concern and opportunity for the future will be park facilities on the east side of Highland Village.  Planned widening of Interstate 35 will have a major impact on Copperas Branch Park a state recreation area that serves as home for the annual Highland Village Balloon Festival.  City officials expect TXDOT to provide $3.5-$4 million to modify existing structures and add amenities to the 99-acre Corps of Engineers property to accommodate changes required by widening of Interstate 35.  The city has also acquired 37 acres of property that has been known as the Doubletree Ranch.  The city is looking to include extensive trails and a soccer complex on the property.  Approximately one third of the property will be set aside as open space with various potential uses to be considered in the future. Because the city is nearing build-out (almost all vacant land in Highland Village has been developed), Heerman said that debt service for capital improvements should take up less and less of the city budget. Currently the city allocated about 22 percent of the budget for long term debt service. Over the next decade that should decline to 18-19 percent.