Hope City Board meets and public hearing held

HOPE – The Tuesday night (11/18) Hope City Board session entered into a public meeting at the start regarding Utility System Revenue Bonds. Ryan Bowman and Taylor Marshall with Friday Firm and Jason Holsclaw with Stephens were present. There were no public comments made, and the hearing lasted about a minute. The City Board meeting then resumed.

The next action was adopting the ordinance authorizing the issuance of Public Utility System Revenue Bonds and related agreement. The principal total of the bonds is $9,975,000.

The bulk of the business was a discussion with City Manager JR Wilson on the proposed 2026 City of Hope budget. Wilson described it “as the most challenging budget he has had to work with, and some hard choices had to be made.”

Wilson described some of the major points:

1. There is a $750 cost of living adjustment for all full-time employees and a $375 cost of living adjustment for permanent part-time employees. There is no COLA included for the City Manager position.

2. Critical issues at the City of Hope landfill. One is the ongoing remediation project that is estimated at $500,000 at this time. A emerging contaminant grant is being considered. Other looming needs include a new baling system, new Class 4 landfill (within
3 years,) excavator, dump truck, and skid steer. Staff is recommending a 15-year Sanitation Bond to satisfy this and accommodate a percentage of other existing debt service. Management assesses that a $10 monthly debt service charge for residential service and a $25 debt service charge for commercial customers will approximately cover annual debt service costs for sanitation. City is still awaiting state approval of the remediation plan, but it’s anticipated the City will be required to drill two more monitoring wells near the contaminated site.

3. We are in the midst of the Hope for the Future Improvement Projects. These improvement projects include new Fire Department, Northside Park Splash Pad with associated amenities, Fair Park Tennis Pickleball Complex, Recreation/Aquatic Center and Soccer Field Improvements. We have developed 100% plans for the Splash Pad, Tennis and Pickle Ball courts and the Recreation/Aquatic Center. We are in various stages of bidding and or construction related to these projects. We anticipate an 18-month construction time for the Recreation Aquatic Center from the time Notice to Proceed is provided. We should close on the New Fire Department Property soon. We have advised the current owners of our intent to purchase pursuant to a warranty deed and survey of the property. Once ownership transfers, we will complete a geotechnical study and 100% building plans for Board approval.

4. New Items of Note, summarized, removed from Collections, New Mosquito Sprayer, at the Airport: Reduced Timber Site prep, Removed Fuel Tank Catwalk. At Public Works: Reduced Equipment Storage, Removed HVAC Replacement. Wastewater: Removed Lift Station Replacement. Reduced Line Maintenance Program. Beautification Committee Funds were removed. We are recommending a general fund loan to Wastewater at 4% to fund excess sludge removal costs; and we are recommending a wastewater rate study be conducted to better understand the future financial needs of the system. Preliminary comment regarding the need to consider opportunity costs related to Old ASP building, Klipsch Auditorium and runway 4-22 capital costs. Preliminary comment regarding the need to consider increasing certain general fund fees for service in 2026.