Windsor Heights will direct more than $1 million of revenue generated from its controversial speed cameras to street repairs throughout the city.

That decision was made Monday night during a lengthy discussion about how the city should spend the nearly $1.9 million generated this year from speed camera fines.

The city did not budget for speed camera revenue because officials were unsure how much revenue the program would generate. They were also waiting on the fate of several bills in the Iowa Legislature that would either force cities to remove speed cameras or dictate how revenue could be spent.

Windsor Heights earns an average of $154,000 a month in fines after it pays its speed camera vendor American Traffic Solutions, said City Administrator Elizabeth Hansen. She proposed the city budget $1.6 million in projects in case fines aren't paid on time.

The council unanimously approved spending $1,130,500 on street repair projects citywide. It rejected a proposal to spend $30,500 on a traffic safety study near Cowles Montessori School and a public service announcement highlighting the benefits of its speed camera program. That money was instead allocated to the street repair budget.

Other projects include:

$148,000 for the construction of 11 blocks of sidewalks near Cowles Montessori School and Clive Learning Academy (approved in June)

$310,000 to a revolving fund to be used for equipment purchases in all city departments

$20,000 to upgrade the city's security camera equipment

$11,000 for improvements to the public safety building, including new police department lockers and a bullet-proof security window

$30,000 for a part-time administrative clerk who will manage the speed camera program and assist with the Police Department's records administration

Councilman Tony Timm said he is satisfied with the city's plan because it has the best of both worlds. A recent city survey showed nearly 60 percent of respondents want the city to prioritize street repairs.

"We have the addressed the elephant in the town of street repairs and we're able to play catch up on needed projects," he said.

A capital improvement plan passed by the council earlier this year allocated only $500,000 toward street improvement projects. The repairs weren't budgeted until 2019.

City engineers are working to prioritize needs and will provide the council a list of streets that will be repaired in the next few weeks, Hansen said. Construction could start this fall on patching potholes.

More:Windsor Heights' speed cameras have issued 29,758 tickets in 8 months

Windsor Heights speed cameras issued 29,758 tickets in the first eight months of 2017 following the installation of two permanent speed cameras within a six-block stretch of University Avenue. Those cameras cover four lanes of traffic and issue tickets to drivers going at least 11 mph over the 25 mph speed limit.

A third camera is attached to a police car that is moved throughout the city.

Only 1,986 automated tickets were issued for all of 2016.

Mayor Diana Willits said she is disappointed so many tickets have been issued along University Avenue, which is considered a residential street. The city is studying whether to reduce that stretch of University Avenue from four lanes to three and add bike lines, much like Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, which will help drivers feel like they should be traveling 25 miles per hour, she said.

"It is absolutely sad to think drivers feel like it's OK to go 11 miles per over over the posted speed limit," Willits said. "We're hoping we don't have to trouble with this money next year."