Coquitlam council is contemplating allocating an additional $577,000 to support the city’s 125th birthday, a move that could bring the total cost of next year’s celebrations close to $1 million.
Initially, organizers estimated the series of programs and events would come in at $720,000 to $870,000 but auxiliary labour costs pushed the final amount to $915,000.
The budget went before city council for approval Monday night but councillors voted unanimously in favour of referring the item to committee for more deliberation.
“I really want to have an opportunity to discuss it,” said Coun. Mae Reid, who put forward the motion to refer, noting that the numbers are higher than originally discussed.
The report stated that the funds would be used to pay for a list of festivals, block parties and other quasquicentennial celebrations that are planned to take place throughout the year. It includes five signature events, an anniversary block party program, enhanced neighbourhood night celebrations and a salmon legacy public art project.
Deferring the report won’t cause any delays for staff in terms of planning and most of the funds would come from established reserves. The infrastructure reserve fund would be used to cover $447,000 while another $130,000 would come from the community capital fund, according to the report.
Raul Allueva, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks and recreation, said the budget report was similar to the list of events and programs that were presented to council earlier this year, with the addition of two minor events.
“What we have done is come forward with a program that largely reflects what was presented to council in January,” Allueva said.
Because most of the money to fund the events is coming from reserves, the costs won’t affect future tax rates, he said.
Coun. Terry O’Neill said he was willing to defer the report for further discussion but added that while it is a sizeable amount of money, the city would benefit from the spending.
“I view this not as an expenditure, which is sizeable… but more as an investment in our community,” he said. “A lot of the stuff we are going to do will have a lasting and positive impact… There is actually some real infrastructure and social infrastructure that is coming about as part of this.”
Council will defer the report until Monday’s meeting, when it will discuss the financial ramifications in greater detail.
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