Council Connects - December 15, 2022

The draft Budget and Business Plan was presented to the City’s Budget & Audit Committee tonight. The 2023 draft plan proposes a 3.93 per cent increase to property taxes for the coming year which will translate to less than $5 per month for the average household.

The 2023 budget also allows for key investments including the opening of the Fountain Street Soccer Complex, the partnership with the Cambridge Sports Park to provide the community with new ice rinks, and further investing in the growth and development of the City through the core area development charges waiver program.

The 2023 capital budget invests in the continued growth of our community and includes $73.9 million of capital investment towards rehabilitation and renewal of existing assets as well as building new assets to support future growth of the city. These investments are allocated across the services the City provides as well as strategic actions included in the City’s strategic plan.

Public delegations and budget deliberations will take place February 9, 2023.

Recreation complex update

Council received an update about the Recreation Complex project. Following a report in May of 2022, staff were directed to procure architects to complete two designs of graduated value. In August of 2022, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. (MJMA) was awarded the contract.

Since that time MJMA and the internal staff Project Team have been working on concept designs and have received updated costing.

Financial Impact:

As of December 2022, the Updated Order of Magnitude cost estimates are as follows:

Although the project remains on schedule, the construction industry continues to see accelerating costs at unprecedented rates due to a variety of factors. Staff will be bringing a report back to Council in Spring of 2023 at which time Council will be requested to approve a design concept and associated project budget.

External funding opportunities continue to be actively pursued with more updates to come in the new year.

Council commits to important infrastructure investments

Council approved a report that highlighted nine capital projects that are included in the 2023 Draft Budget and Business Plan. The preapproval of these capital projects is essential in order to secure best pricing and meet stakeholder timelines.

The capital projects being sought for approval at this time include the following:

• Four road reconstruction projects (Church Street, Groh Avenue, Clemens Avenue and Roseview Avenue /Gladstone Avenue).
• The Beverly Street Reconstruction and Pedestrian Underpass project
• Two elevator refurbishments for Recreation and Culture buildings - David Durward Centre and Centre for the Arts.
• Fire Station 5 Sewer Pipe - preapproval for this project is required to ensure health and safety standards are maintained in the building and to secure best pricing. Currently weekly pipe flushing is required, which is a costly temporary solution.
• Newland Pool Accessibility Improvements

The projects brought forward for approval total $25,536,300. The remainder of the 2023 Budget and Business Plan will be deliberated in its entirety as part of the budget process in February 2023.

2023 water and sewer rate increase

Council approved a moderate water and sewer rate increase of 3.90% for the average household. This proposed rate increase is in line with the long-range financial plan approved in 2019 in accordance with provincial regulations. Rate increases will be applied on January 1, 2023 in order to avoid the impact of lost revenues as the remainder of the budget will be approved in February of 2023.