Boulder’s proposed capital improvements On Tuesday, the Boulder City Council will discuss the draft capital improvement budget through 2017. Here’s a look at some of the suggested investments over the next six years. $20.4 million — Open space acquisitions $5.6 million — Boulder Junction development $4.3 million — Improving 28th Street from Baseline Road to Iris Avenue $1.7 million — Flatirons Gold Course irrigation replacement $1.1 million — Elks Neighborhood Park $1 million — Colo. 93 underpass at Community Ditch Trail $750,000 — Downtown and Pearl Street Mall improvements $700,000 — Valmont City Park improvements $515,000 — Development of Mesa Memorial Park $150,000 — Flatirons Golf Course playability improvements Source: City of Boulder If you go What: Boulder City Council study session When: 6 p.m. Tuesday Where: Boulder Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway

Over the next six years, the city of Boulder could end up spending a total of $170 million on 161 public improvement projects.

The details of where that money is slated to go are included in the draft Capital Improvement Program budget that the City Council will discuss during a study session Tuesday night.

While voters this fall will be asked to approve an additional $49 million worth of bonds to pay for additional capital improvements, the projects listed in the city’s six-year plan are part of the regular process for improving city facilities and public infrastructure.

The council will be asked later this fall to approve funding only the projects that are scheduled to take place in 2012, which include $23.8 million spread out over 76 projects. The remaining projects will be funded on an annual basis as money is available.

The suggested 2012 work plan includes improving and repairing roads, developing community parks, replacing water lines, making preparations for the planned Boulder Junction development and conducting major maintenance on downtown parking garages.

One of the single largest projects is completing the improvements to a 2.5-mile stretch of 28th Street, from Baseline Road to Iris Avenue.

That project has a total cost of nearly $23 million, and is being completed in small phases.

Stephany Westhusin, Boulder’s transportation projects coordinator, said work is nearly complete on the south end of the project between Baseline and Arapahoe Avenue — although there’s still work to be done on a multi-use path along the University of Colorado campus.

In the coming years, the city will focus on completing the north section of the road, which includes construction of additional multi-use paths and a bike lane.

The city also plans to begin design work next year on an underpass at Baseline Road and Broadway. That project has a total expected cost of $5.4 million, although construction is not expected to begin for at least a few more years.

The Diagonal Highway, from 28th to 30th streets, will also get a $4.4 million facelift with reconstruction of the roadway, curbs and gutters and a multi-use path.

There’s also money in the city’s plan to improve, expand and develop new community parks.

Elks Neighborhood Park, located at 3995 28th St., is slated to receive $1.1 million worth of upgrades through 2013. Valmont City Park, located at the corner of Valmont and Airport roads, is set to receive $700,000 toward its design and planning during the same time.

Alice Guthrie, Boulder’s recreation superintendent, said the improvements to Elks Park will fulfill the city’s promise to voters who approved a .25-cent sales tax in 1995 to improve a number of community parks.

She said the city is also working to follow through on its pledge to a south Boulder neighborhood to develop the 1.7-acre Mesa Memorial pocket park at the corner of Yale Road and Table Mesa Drive.

That $515,000 project has been on the backburner since 2009 due to a lack of funding. Now, parks officials say they’re ready to make good on their promise to residents by beginning park design and development in 2012.

Guthrie said those plans have been scaled down, however, from the original $800,000 plans.

The draft plan also calls for improvements to the Flatirons Golf Course. In 2012, the popular public course would receive $150,000 worth of “playability improvements” that address design flaws and improve tee boxes, sand bunkers, drainage, hole length and feature locations.

Parks officials are recommending a $1.7 million upgrade to Flatirons’ irrigation system, with the work split between 2013 and 2014.

The city’s water utility, meanwhile, plans to finish installing its new water meter transponders throughout the city over the next two years at a total cost of about $1.1 million.

The devices allow city workers to remotely take meter readings from a van several blocks away.

“We don’t have to do manual reads any longer,” said Ned Williams, Boulder’s director of public works for utilities. “That saves on driving and time needed to get the monthly reads.”

The devices also allow homeowners and businesses to purchase a $75 device that provides frequent information about their water use.

The City Council will discuss the proposed capital improvement budget on Tuesday night. The Boulder Planning Board has already approved the list.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Heath Urie at 303-473-1328 or urieh@dailycamera.com.