Hutchinson planners to weigh whether $45 million capital plan matches city's long-range vision

Hutchinson's Planning Commission meets Tuesday, Aug. 25, to decide whether the city's $45.1 million list of 2027 water, street, park and building projects conforms to the comprehensive plan, a required step before council budget adoption. The City Council has set Sept. 1 as the public hearing on the 2027 budget; the commission has not yet acted on the conformance question.

The review is required by K.S.A. 12-748 and by Section a.2.c.3 of the city's adopted 2017-2037 comprehensive plan. Community Development Director Matt Williams' staff report recommends that the commission find all proposed projects in conformance. The capital plan section of the city's 2027 proposed budget states, "The CIP is a financial planning document, not a commitment for spending." The program covers projects over $50,000, and spending is authorized only when the council adopts the budget. Each project returns to the council for approval before a bid is awarded, and staff note the budget process is still underway, so some items may not be funded or may move to later years.

The largest single line item is $5,958,000 for Memorial Hall renovations, followed by $5,500,000 for the Carey Park Water Reuse Project, Lagoon Expansion and River Access Site, which the plan lists as grant-funded. Water work accounts for much of the rest: $3,374,358 for annual water main replacement, $2,142,450 for high pressure zone rehabilitation and $1,066,169 for fire, life and safety improvements at the water treatment center. Other items include $1,250,000 for a zoo agricultural center exhibit and front gate update, $1,200,000 for the 6th and Keast bridge replacement and $1,075,000 for the sports arena roof.

Recurring maintenance reserves include $2,500,000 for arterial and residential street maintenance overlays, $750,000 for residential street resurfacing, $325,000 for stormwater maintenance, $250,000 for crack sealing, $200,000 for the sidewalk improvement program and $100,000 for bridge maintenance. The program also includes a $950,000 demolition reserve — $650,000 of it from general fund bonds, the largest of five demolition years budgeted through 2031 — and a $50,000 facade improvement program.

Water bonds would cover the largest share of the $45,129,139 program at $13,288,278, or 29.45%, followed by $9,243,000 in grants, $5,697,720 in interest and reserves, $4,954,119 from a general fund transfer, $3,635,000 in sales tax and $3,377,900 in general fund bonds. The plan does not name the grant programs or say whether the grant money, including the full $5,500,000 for the Carey Park project, has been awarded, applied for or assumed. Its summary and its detailed 2027 funding table also differ on two sources: the summary lists the $4,954,119 general fund transfer and $5,697,720 in interest and reserves, while the detailed table's totals row shows $1,261,000 and $5,876,000.

The commission is also set to hold a public hearing on VAC-26-0004, a request by Scrap Metal Industries agent Brett Clancy to vacate the entire platted alley right-of-way between Avenue F and Bigger Street near 729 S. Main, combining the properties on either side and building a fence across the unimproved alley. The staff report says Evergy prefers the alley not be vacated, citing safety concerns and problems relocating utility lines when the southern portion of Avenue G to the north was vacated. City engineering and public works have no objection but have requested a 20-foot easement over the public sanitary sewer and stormwater conduits in the alley, and Kansas Gas has requested a 10-foot easement. Planning staff recommend approval with seven conditions, including that any utility relocation be made at the owner's expense. The commission's vote is a recommendation, with the City Council taking final action on vacations.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 125 E. Avenue B and includes approval of the Aug. 11 minutes and a public comment period limited to five minutes. The commission's next meeting is Sept. 8.

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