Engineering staff in Coquitlam are asking council to approve a funding request for $30 million to build a new works yard in the northeast part of the city.
The department is also seeking another $3 million to expand its Austin Avenue works yard in an effort to improve service levels in the city’s newest neighbourhoods, said Dana Soong, the acting general manager of engineering and public works.
“We are doing this to decentralize our operations,” he told council during a budget presentation Tuesday morning. “As our community is growing in northeast Coquitlam, we aren’t able to provide the same service as we are in the rest of the city.”
Staff noted that it can take a truck approximately 30 to 40 minutes each way to reach some of the neighbourhoods in the northeast, like Burke Mountain and the new Partington Creek area. If the new works yard is approved, it would house vehicles such as snow plows and act as a home base for some public works employees.
“We have to look at a satellite area,” said Coquitlam Coun. Craig Hodge, a Burke Mountain resident. “The northeast is a long way to get to… I am thinking snow removals. It can be a bit of a haul.”
Not everyone at the council table agreed.
Coun. Bonita Zarrillo said that she would need more information about the benefits of a new works yard before she would sign off on approving what would be the largest budget request this year.
“I wouldn’t want to spend $30 million for a couple of days of snow,” she said. “And with climate change, we may not even be having snow on Burke Mountain.”
While the idea of building a new works yard has only recently discussed in open meetings, some negotiations appear to be taking place behind the scenes.
City manager Peter Steblin acknowledged during Tuesday’s budget meeting that a consultant had been hired and that a staff report was given to council during closed meetings last month. Under the Community Charter, cities are allowed to hold closed meetings when discussing land sales or acquisitions, labour issues or legal matters.
The $33-million request comes as council prepares it 2017 financial plan, which will guide the city’s spending priorities for the next five years. On Monday and Tuesday, managers from each department presented their list of needs, with a total price tag of more than $39.5 million (including works yard costs).
The second largest expense after the engineering request comes from the Coquitlam RCMP, with the detachment seeking $3 million for a new community police station in Burquitlam.
As well, the city’s parks, recreation and culture department is looking for close to $1 million in new funding for service enhancements, including $181,000 for the Kaleidoscope Festival and $28,000 for block parties. Another $400,000 is being sought for tree risk assessments.
SOME MAJOR FUNDING REQUESTS
Engineering & Public Works:
• Northeast satellite works yard: $30 million
• Austin works yard expansion: $3 million
• Traffic operations engineer: $108,600
• Utility planning engineer: $107,100
• Clerk 3: $22,000
• Disposal costs for works yard operations: $17,500
TOTAL: $33,255,200
Parks, Recreation and Culture:
• Tree risk assessment & mitigation: $400,200
• Kaleidoscope Festival: $181,000
• Managing cultural assets: $150,000
• Parks planner (full-time): $44,250
• Corporate partners program support: $40,100
• Park operations event support: $30,700
• Black Parties: $28,000
• Glen Pine extended hours: $27,900
• Events office auxiliary hours: $25,100
• Town Centre Plaza programming: $23,700
• Canada 150: $22,700
• Cultural summit: $15,500
TOTAL: $989,150
Planning & Development:
• Construction site liaison: $128,300
• Planner 1: $88,400
• Subdivision and development technologist: $74,900
• Building inspector (auxiliary): $31,500
TOTAL: $323,100
Evergreen Cultural Centre:
• Venue outdoor digital signage: $65,000
• Administrative support: $25,000
• Rehearsal hall flooring replacement: $8,500
TOTAL: $98,500
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