Along with the usual budget discussion, four main points were discussed at the city’s budget meeting on Jan. 28.
Along with the preliminary discussion of the Priority Based Budgeting summary, City Manager Roy Hardy brought four main points to council that could be large, long term projects for Humboldt.
Managing the Growth Gap
The first discussion was about what the city can expect in terms of growth and development in 2016.
In terms of housing available, the city has a good inventory of housing developments that are going to be available, up to 60 new housing options, for 2016, says Hardy.
There will be three phases of growth in Humboldt and the operation of the Jansen mine will have a big impact on that growth.
Humboldt will continue to grow at a moderate pace until the end of the decade, says Hardy. By that time, Hardy says that the city will have a better understanding of how Jansen will affect growth in Humboldt.
Between 2020-2025, the city is expecting to have more growth because of the Jansen project.
The city does have some planning to do to get ready for this influx, says Hardy.
Stormwater management issues will be taken into consideration for these developments.
“It’ll take into considering these storm water management issues we’ll continue to run into for the foreseeable future.” Says Hardy.
Improving infrastructure in existing parts of the city will have to be considered along with the new developments that are going to be developed over the next few years.
Many important city documents have been recently updated, including the, infrastructure planning piece, Our Community Plan, the zoning piece, Mayor Eaton says that Humboldt is in a good position to develop future developments.
“What’s left to do as future development and future growth comes towards us is the planning for those particular developments and pieces of infrastructure to support them.”
Other than paying for the studies that will take place in the future that have already been approved by council, there are not immediate budget implications for the city, says Hardy.
During the second and third phases of growth, the city is going to have to identify partnerships in servicing the northeast part of the city.
The biggest development expenditures that the city will have this year is the stormwater line twinning, which will take care of existing problems with the city’s storm water management in light of the Jul. 28 storm, and the reservoir expansion, which will prepare for future growth.
Hardy says these projects include, “updating elements of our system, particularly some of our electrical and mechanical elements of our system and then adding the extra reservoir for additional growth and to ensure we’re up to date with provincial standards in terms of being able to retain the appropriate amount of water in the event there is a disruption.”
Proposed Multi-use Uniplex Addition
Although there was lots of discussion with councillors about where to take the proposed Multi-use facility for the 2016 budget, Hardy’s presentation was accepted for information for council but little is expected for development for this year.
Primarily there would be three additions to the Uniplex, a fieldhouse, theatre space, and a larger conference and common area, and one optional addition that the city would have to decide on, which would be a dedicated gymnastics area.
Although an expanded multiplex has been identified as something the city and residents want to go forward with, with a new municipal election scheduled for October 2016, council does not want to pass on what could be unnecessary high costs to the new council or make any decisions that a new council could not support.
“It’s a combination of working on this but also respecting that future councils will have a voice in this as well because it is not happening between now and next October.”
With some variations in different plans, the project could cost anywhere between $17.8 to $28.6 million.
What will happen for 2016 is a continuation of public discussions and discussions with community groups from all over the region on how they can support the project.
“The key thing is getting it in the public realm and getting the conversation going. Hopefully through that, a path becomes clear,” says Eaton.
Proposed Curbside Household Waste Program
A new, automated curbside garbage and recycling pick up system is the next step in residential waste pickup, says Hardy. This will be a system of all recyclable material in one bin and garbage in another picked up right at residential curbs.
This could be the next thing to modernize Humboldt, says Counsellor Roger Nordick.
Hardy quoted a lot of benefits with a new curbside system, including stronger bins that will not tip over and protect garbage and recycling from the elements and scavengers, as well as a more accessible recycling program.
“The benefits that have been seen in other communities are that in effect the separation of waste and recycling occurs better. There are more recyclable materials that are diverted from landfill sites.”
It also would allow for less manpower to pick up the bins. With automated trucks, there would only have to be one person doing the rounds for pick up, says Hardy.
Since this would only be for residential properties, there will still have to be more discussion on what can be done for industrial and business waste.
Cost for running the system would be included in utility bills and are quoted at around $100 a year but initial costs would have to include the truck and bins.
“We’ve got to figure out how to spread that cost out over the life of the bins or trucks.” Says Hardy.
The program is now up for a public discussion now that Hardy has made his presentation to council. Now it is up to how many people would actually use the system.
“At this point while the numbers are still a topic for discussion on what that may be, it does depend on the number of people using the system at the end of the day.”
Hardy has proposed a system that would alternate between garbage and recycling pick up except in the summer months.
Bagged yard waste will be accepted for pickup with this new program which could be an alternative to the back yard pick up system they have in place.
There will be more discussion with React and the city wants residents input on the desirability of this new system.
“We haven’t had a full set of discussions with React yet, we’ve had some initial discussions but we also want to get some input as well on this program before we get into defining the city’s needs in respect to this program.”
Proposed Centennial Park Redevelopment
There are two major concerns when it comes to the development of Centennial Park out by the Uniplex. One is the beautification and function of the park and the other is using the park as a stormwater management system.
As a result of the storm in July, Centennial Park was turned into a water storage area, which was beneficial, says Hardy, because that water was not going into people’s basements.
Any future development of the park will now include places for water storage in dry ponds to temporarily stormwater, and gravity mains and forced mains to move the water collected.
“What we’re looking is eventually putting in a stormwater management system that will allow us to retain water until such time as we’re able to discharge it into the stormwater system.” Says Hardy.
These ponds will only be used when the system is backed up, so in case of another extreme event like in July. Once the system catches up, usually taking no longer than 48 hours, the water will be pumped out of Centennial Park.
These dry ponds will include two ball diamonds on the north west corner of the park and the multipurpose field on the north east corner of the park.
“Using some of the outfield area for storage ensures that if we have a large storm that we have the ability to retain that and not put it into the system as quickly so the system can reduce itself down and we can control flows out of the city.”
Another aspect of that system, says Hardy, is a swale on 17th Ave. that will automatically drain into Centennial Park once the water reaches a certain level to take some pressure off the stormwater system.
Once the construction of the park has started, it will take two seasons to complete, that includes not only the stormwater management system but also developing the parking lot surrounding the Uniplex into 150 paved spots and 1000 spots with drained gravel, and developing the ball fields and the multipurpose field.
Community events will have to be relocated during this time, like the Summer Sizzler, the JCI demolition derby, and softball and baseball seasons.
“We have to sit down with the user groups and we have to see what their need is and what they’re looking for,” says Community and Leisure Services Director Darrell Lessmeister.
The total cost is quoted at $8 million dollars to complete but with the stormwater management plans included in the development, the city is eligible for the Green Municipal Fund grant through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
“We have to investigate those and see if there are opportunities we can do that.” Says Lessmeister.
What the city has approved for the park for 2016 is a well for water storage that has a pump with a power switch.
“If we have another rain fall, at least we get rid of the water quicker and easier without a lot of expense.” Says Lessmeister.
No one can predict when there will be another extreme weather event, says Lessmeister, but now the city will be prepared for it.
The rest of the project will be discussed at future meetings.
For links to full presentation about each budget point, find them at humboldt.ca/priority-based-budgeting.
