City administration's proposed 2024 budget recommends to council that nearly $3.3 million worth of growth capital projects be postponed for at least a year. However, several councillors say they plan to bring forward certain projects on that list for funding.
The seven growth capital projects on the draft budget's “unfunded” list range include a much-needed expansion to the city's Jack Kraft facility, which features a garage where maintenance to all city vehicles except transit takes place; a further postponement to a planned revamp of the city's Historic River Lots and Grain Elevator Park; and a deferral of public engagement on the city's website and overall online presence.
Each year, as part of the budget-development process, the city evaluates capital projects to rank them by importance, alignment with council's strategic priorities, and financial impact. The projects that end up on the unfunded list in each year's proposed budget are those that don't meet the priority threshold.
Two projects city staff have recommended to be postponed — a renovation of council's bench in St. Albert Place costing either $65,000 or $192,000 (depending on the scope of the work), and $125,000 to put programmable lighting along St. Albert Place — may not be postponed after all.
On Oct. 24, the day the proposed 2024 budget was released to the public, Coun. Wes Brodhead submitted a motion to allow council to debate the $192,000 renovation project to council's bench.
The proposed renovation, which was initially a result of a successful motion put forward by Coun. Sheena Hughes last January, would solve the “numerous” issues the existing bench has, according to the project charter included in the draft budget.
“The bench located in the council chambers is original circa 1984 and has had limited repairs or modification work in the last 40 years,” the project charter reads.
Given its age, the charter says, the bench has insufficient power outlets; a lack of accessibility (stairs and a “non-compliant” ramp); visibility issues; and damaged wood.
The scope of work described includes demolishing the existing non-compliant accessibility ramp and installing two vertical lifts; relocating power outlets; cutting some of the bench to improve visibility; and refinishing the bench where necessary.
“That needs to be upgraded,” Brodhead said. “The desk, as it is, is almost non-functional in many respects.”
Coun. Mike Killick also said he wanted to see improvements made to the bench, but said he was thinking about bringing forward the cheaper and reduced-scope option which would accomplish many of the same changes, except for removing and replacing the non-compliant accessibility ramp with a vertical lift.
“Council's bench is another one that absolutely has been a long-standing challenge,” Killick said, adding that from his seat he is unable to see many city staff members during council meetings.
“I think the cheaper version (of the renovation) would solve the problem,” he said.
Coun. Sheena Hughes said she hadn't decided whether she wants to bring forward one of the options administration presented, but said, “I just need my working space to actually be workable.”
Programmable lights on St. Albert Place
Killick said he plans to bring forward a motion during budget deliberations that, if passed, would add $125,000 to the city's 2024 capital budget to install programmable LED lights along the second floor balcony of St. Albert Place.
The project charter included in the proposed 2024 budget stems from a successful motion Killick put forward in May. At the time, Killick said he thought having programmable lights on St. Albert Place would be a good way for the city to publicly recognize days and events throughout the year, such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.
Some 91 metres of lights would be installed, which could then be set to certain colours to pay tribute to special days or events through the year, similar to Edmonton's program for the High Level Bridge.
“I really do think it would enhance the downtown as part of what we're looking at in our business improvement area and just brightening up downtown,” Killick said.
Both Coun. Natalie Joly and Coun. Ken MacKay said they will not bring forward any capital projects that have been recommended for postponement.
“Our capital project priority process is thorough, and with significant capital funding shortfalls looming over the next couple of years, I'd be hesitant to consider anything that isn't clearly a priority,” Joly said.
“In order to keep the budget manageable, I understand why some of these aren't recommended by administration,” said MacKay. “They aren't critical.”
Postponed projects
The five projects none of the councillors expressed interest in funding next year include $632,000 to complete the design of a two-lane expansion to the Jack Kraft facility's garage.
The expansion, according to the project charter, is becoming increasingly necessary as capacity limits mean maintenance to city vehicles is taking longer to complete.
“The existing public works garage is past capacity (and) there continues to be a yearly increase in the number of fleet services vehicles requiring maintenance,” the charter says. “Increasing maintenance capacity is (a) priority to handle the existing and future fleet services maintenance demands.”
Another project being recommended for postponement is $75,000 to conduct public engagement and identify and implement any needed improvements to the city's website and overall online presence.
The project charter included in the proposed budget explains that the city currently only has one full-time employee responsible for developing the city's website, and the staff member is “severely strained.”
“Due to an absence of funding, no meaningful public engagement or testing related to the city website has occurred since 2016, and none ever with our satellite services,” the charter states. “Consequently, assumptions, internal stakeholder opinions, industry best practices, and fragmentary public feedback drive design, development and content decisions.”
The charter also says that, if need be, the cost to hire a contractor to develop an entirely new city website would be about $1 million, and take over two years.
“This expenditure and a painfully delayed response to mounting dissatisfaction are what we risk by failing to invest in informed, incremental improvements to the existing portfolio.”
Council will debate changes to the proposed budget at the end of November.
