The Winston-Salem City Council agreed last night to take on about $5.1 million in new debt to pay for a range of projects citywide -- from resurfacing streets to renovating playgrounds.
The projects will be paid for with two-thirds bonds, a type of bond that does not require voter approval. Denise Bell, the city's chief financial officer, said that the city will have two years to spend the money.
Council Member Wanda Merschel, the chairwoman of council's finance committee, said that the bonds will be used to pay for one-time improvements.
"Two-thirds bonds are a good financing vehicle to accomplish the needs that are ongoing but not necessarily immediate," she said.
The largest planned project is a $1 million proposal to build and repair sidewalks and install ramps. The city also plans to repave about seven miles of city streets and renovate several playgrounds, including ones at Little Creek, Polo, Old Town and Granville parks.
About $700,000 has been earmarked to complete a portion of the Muddy Creek Greenway, from Country Club Road to Robinhood Road.
The city has also set aside about $150,000 for renovations to Winston Square Park, which is adjacent to the Sawtooth Building downtown. The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County have asked the city to help renovate that park.
Council members have agreed to use a portion of that $150,000 to work with the arts council's architects to plan for the renovations.
Council Member Dan Besse said that the projects are all important. "We're not just issuing bonds for the sake of issuing them," he said.
Bell said that the city could spend the bond money on different projects, but is required to spend it in certain categories. It must spend $875,000 on public safety projects, $1.75 million on street and sidewalk projects and $2.48 million on parks and recreation projects.
In other business, city council agreed to make technical changes to a new city ordinance that controls how people house chickens, pigeons and other fowl in city limits.
On March 3, the council approved the ordinance. It requires people to house the birds at least 150 feet from the nearest property line. People who own pigeons can get permission to keep their birds closer to the property line if the Zoning Board of Adjustment approves their requests.
■ Blair Goldstein can be reached at 727-7284 or at bgoldstein@wsjournal.com.
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