State College Borough Council considers modifications to project funding

State College Borough Council will be asked to vote Monday on several capital improvement modifications seeking to accelerate programs, reallocate funding or borrow additional funds.

Various parking fund projects were mentioned to council on Jan. 11, as borough Manager Tom Fountaine said staff would be asking for “about $6 million in improvements” for off-street parking in the borough.

First, he said, staff recommended reprogramming several projects for three of the borough parking garages. The projects were originally to be completed in 2017, but staff requested they be completed this year.

The Fraser Street Garage is looking at $1.9 million in renovation work, public works Director Mark Whitfield said. A majority of the work would involve exterior renovation work, including a possible redesign of the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza.

The elevators would also be replaced from a hydraulic system to a high-speed traction system, he said. The funds would also include standard maintenance and repair.

The Beaver Avenue Garage would also see elevator replacement, he said. Customers using the elevators frequently cite speed as an issue, he said, as hydraulic fluid can grow sluggish in cold weather.

The Pugh Street Garage would be looking at $2.2 million in renovations, he said, including elevator replacement, lighting replacement, structural changes to bring up to date to modern code and stair tower rehabilitation.

Moving the renovations up a year was driven by a strong desire to finish Fraser and Beaver garage improvements in coordination with the reopening of South Fraser Street, Fountaine said. This will avoid putting the businesses along Fraser under another season of construction activity.

The 2016 program also includes the purchase of a new parking and revenue control system, Fountaine said, including replacement of the ticket issuing system, pay stations and software. The replacement of the system is valued at $650,000.

Council will also consider the transfer of budgetary appropriations within the community development block grant and capital funds of the borough budget.

Council has been asked to move $130,000 from the capital improvement plan originally proposed to fund street lights to a fund for video cameras in the Highlands neighborhood, Whitfield said. These funds will then be transferred to the College Avenue Street Light Replacement project and funds for municipal building improvements.

According to Whitfield, $65,000 will fund street light replacements along West College Avenue from South Atherton to Fraser Street, and $65,000 will fund federal Americans with Disabilities Act guideline improvements to the municipal building.

Highlands Civic Association President Susan Venegoni said she and the Highlands camera committee did not find out until that day that the funds would be moved off the camera projects and was concerned the project would remain unfunded.

Councilwoman Theresa Lafer said she understood Venegoni’s concern and said she didn’t believe anyone on the council wished to defund the project; the cameras will come in, one way or another.

Council will consider action on a borrowing proposal in the parking fund that will be used to benefit off-street parking, according to the borough. Assistant Manager Roger Dunlap said while the current total is $5.2 million to be borrowed, it will likely be closer to $5.6 million when the council sees it Monday.

The large amount is due to the garage projects, he said, which were initially expected to be completed over a few years, that will all take place within the year. The borough will be looking at a repayment term of 15 years at an interest rate below 3 percent.

Parking fund costs will be offset by changes in parking rates, parking Manager Rick Ward said. Special event fees will increase from $1.75 to $2.25 per hour in all parking garages and surface lots with a daily maximum of $32. This will take effect July 1.

Monthly permits will increase by $10 effective July 1 as well, he said. On-street and surface meters will increase from $1 to $1.25 per hour effective July 1, 2017.

Finally, he said, hourly garage rates will increase July 1, 2017, as well, with a daily maximum increasing from $16 to $20.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "State College Borough Council considers modifications to project funding."