TO: Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
THRU: Hayden Beckman, Planning Manager
FROM: Arlen Beck, Senior Planner
1. Subject
title
General Plan Conformance finding for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 through 2030-2031 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program and finding of CEQA exemption per CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
body
2. Summary
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) serves as a single comprehensive plan of proposed capital improvement projects for the budget year Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and the four years thereafter. In accordance with State law, the City must determine that the CIP is in conformance with the General Plan.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Find that the projects identified within the proposed five-year Capital Improvement Program are consistent with the City’s General Plan.
2. Find that the action is not a project per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, and therefore categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
end
4. project background
In accordance with State law, the City must determine that the CIP is consistent with the General Plan. This is an annual report on the staff analysis for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and the four years thereafter.
5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The CIP serves as a single comprehensive plan of proposed capital improvement projects for the budget year Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and the four years thereafter. The CIP is a budgeting and fiscal planning tool used to determine the extent of future funding needs and existing sources of funding for City capital projects. The CIP identifies 12 newly added projects to the previous CIP, for a total of 86 projects being proposed for the five-year period. Of the projects identified in the previously adopted Fiscal Year 2025-2026 through 2029-2030 five-year CIP, 22 have been either completed, eliminated, or put on hold.
The new projects planned during the upcoming five-year planning period encompass a range of City projects identified in Attachment 1 and are summarized as follows:
• Land Use Tracking and Permitting Software
• Veterans Park Memorial Fountain Restoration
• Santiago Creek Trail - Lodge Pole Fencing Replacement
• Playground Equipment Replacement
• El Camino Real Park Sports Courts Resurfacing and Conversion Project
• El Modena Park Upper Restroom Replacement
• Fire Station 3 Building Addition
• Elevator Replacement - Police Headquarters and City Corporation Yard
• Fleet Facility HVAC Installation and Interior Painting
• Police Headquarters Vehicle Access System Modernization
• Water Yard North Yard Gate Replacement
• Fleet Facility Corp Yard Roll-Up Door Replacement
6. PROJECT analysis
Staff has reviewed the new projects identified within the proposed five-year CIP for conformance with the City’s General Plan (a summary of new CIP projects is provided as Attachment 1). The projects identified in the CIP are consistent with City of Orange General Plan policy and further the implementation of the General Plan. A matrix presenting project conformance with the General Plan and the anticipated environmental review is provided as Attachment 2 to this report. A complete draft of the proposed five-year CIP project sheets is provided as Attachment 3.
7. AUTHORIZING GUIDELINES
California Government Code Section 65401 requires the City to prepare a coordinated program (i.e., Capital Improvement Program) identifying projects recommended for planning, initiation, or construction during the following fiscal year. In accordance with State law, the Planning Commission must review and report on the conformity of the CIP with the adopted General Plan.
8. public notice
The CIP General Plan conformity determination does not require public notice other than for the public meeting of the Planning Commission.
9. environmental review
Staff has reviewed the list of projects identified in the CIP and determined that a number of projects will likely involve the need for preparation of environmental documentation in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Appropriate CEQA documents will be prepared after a specific project scope is defined but prior to City Council approval of construction contracts.
The CIP General Plan conformity determination report is not a project per CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. The CIP is a budgeting and fiscal planning tool and does not commit the City to construction or implementation of any specific project.
10. ADVISORY BOARD ACTION
None.
11. ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 New Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 through 2030-2031 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program
• Attachment 2 Capital Improvement Program General Plan Conformity Matrix
• Attachment 3 Draft Fiscal Year 2026-2027 through 2030-2031 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program Project Sheets