Belmont setting goals to bring up the quality of life

Mates said the long-term plan that provides a blueprint for City Council goals and priorities builds upon previous goals achieved around infrastructure and housing in its 2020 strategic plan. The council discussed potential options at its May 23 special meeting, with final approval expected in June.

For infrastructure and mobility, the city aims to improve its system to meet future demand and climate action goals by enhancing bike, pedestrian and public transit options. The multi-modal transportation improvements would include changes to Ralston Avenue and other important transit corridors. It also wants to develop a transportation master plan in the next two to three years that addresses how to manage traffic and infrastructure. The city will also work on paving rundown streets and sewer improvement changes.

The city also wants to update its climate action plan, ensure enough staffing for public safety needs and complete its parks, recreation and open space master plan. The park’s plan has led to a debate about bike and trail usage and whether bikes and hikers should share trails, especially at Waterdog Park. Efforts to replace the Belmont Barrett Community Center are also underway and to raise funding for a new site, with the current price estimated in the $67 million to $69 million range. Due to foundational issues, the city also wants to replace Fire Station 15 on Cipriani Boulevard.

The city also wants to use sales tax revenue from Measure I, passed in 2016 by Belmont voters, to improve infrastructure. The city is also examining changes to its business license tax. Belmont currently has a flat rate currently used and has previously looked at moving to taxation by gross sales. The city also faces challenges to its long-term general fund forecast due to a need to replace revenue shortfalls caused by the state’s underfunding of property tax in lieu of vehicle license fees owed to Belmont for a fourth straight year. According to a May budget update, the funds are already owed to cities like Belmont and are instead being used to pay a separate state obligation.

“With this latest budget news, we need to really make sure we secure some sort of revenue source and diversify that, and we are going to have to move faster than that,” Mates said.