By Troy Gillard and Sheldon Spackman

PLENTY OF PROJECTS APPROVED TUESDAY

BUDGET: Aquatic centre may splash back into city’s capital plan

Dec 1, 2020 | 7:19 PM

A new aquatic centre for Red Deer currently does not feature into the city’s 10-year Capital Plan. But that could change as early as Thursday.

Mayor Tara Veer hinted that when council discusses the capital plan as part of their week-long budget deliberations, they could make a splash by bringing the long sought after pool back into the picture.

“I think it’s fair to say that we’ve been looking at some of the specific options for the pool, and the community is aware of that,” Veer acknowledged.

The aquatic centre was the subject of an in-camera (closed door) council discussion on Tuesday. Council has the option of going in-camera to discuss land, legal and labour related matters.

“The aquatic centre is not in the 10-year Capital Plan, but it will be coming up in the context of the plan. Council will be asked to adopt a motion with respect to the 10 year capital plan.

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“I think it’s fair to say that there’ll be more information that will be coming forward to the public in 2021,” Veer said.

“Administration will be asked to provide some high level remarks (on Thursday). Council will be asked to pass a resolution, and so there will be some council questions and discussion.

“A supplementary report will be coming to council in quarter two of 2021 that will give the public further information to provide their feedback on.”

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City council approved a number of big ticket capital projects slated for 2021 on Tuesday.

Among them were a fire training facility ($4.5 million), paved roadway network ($13.8M), Civic Yards flood berm ($4.6M), Collicutt Centre preservation (just under $3M), Stormwater infrastructure annual program ($8M), the CP Rail overpass for Highway 11A between Taylor Drive and Gaetz Avenue ($6.3M) and park land acquisition ($10M).

Also approved on Tuesday was $4.6 million to finish renovations to the (Intermediate) Central School building in downtown Red Deer that currently houses the city’s Culture Services department.

Other city departments will also be moving into the building once work is complete. The building will also continue to house arts studios and workshops, the Viewpoint Art Gallery, as well as arts and culture administrative offices.

Up for discussion on Wednesday will be the 911 emergency communications centre pegged at $5.8 million, and the $35.5 million G.H. Dawe Community Centre expansion that is sure to involve some lengthy council discussion.

The Taylor Drive/Highway 11A intersection pegged at $8.1 million will also be debated by council on Wednesday.

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Budget deliberations resume at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.