Majority of City projects on schedule in 2019
Administration presented the 2019 third quarter project status update during the City’s regular council meeting on Tuesday.
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The City of Spruce Grove is on track with their 2019 capital projects ahead of tough decisions in 2020.
Administration presented the 2019 third quarter project status update during the City’s regular council meeting on Tuesday. A total of 41, or 71 per cent of all City projects are pushing forward on schedule, while 12 (20 per cent) are on hold four are behind (seven per cent), and one has reached completion (two per cent).
Additionally, 58 per cent of all projects are on budget, while one is slightly over budget, one is moderately over budget, and one is significantly over budget. The remaining 36 per cent of projects are listed as non-applicable.
“The report works to align the initiatives and projects with the appropriate strategic priority areas of Council’s strategic plan as well as the Council’s focus areas that were identified earlier this year. Projects that relate to City business operations are also highlighted as they support both core services and those projects that directly relate to the implementation of the strategic plan,” said the City in their report.
The report is current as of the end of the third financial quarter in 2019, but includes adjustments to projects recommended under the 2020-2022 corporate plan and therefore is subject to change going forward.
Design and construction of a snow dump site, a project that is slated to cost $1.52 million, has been deferred to 2020, while the City’s major maintenance condition study on their storm ponds has been deferred to 2022.
Both the recreation offsite levy model and storm rate utility model projects have been put on hold but will pick up again in 2020.
The budget for their permanent park and ride project was reduced by $221,000 in 2019, while the estimated costs for the heavily debated arena complex project were reduced by $3.95 million. This pushed the estimated completion for the arena project to the fourth quarter of 2023.
“These changes are being considered as part of fiscal prudence, requiring Administration to exercise agility and effectively respond to various circumstances,” said the City. “Some of these changes are in response to lower than projected revenues coming from slower growth and the current economic climate coupled with the recognition of the importance of fiscal sustainability.”
The City’s most expensive project in 2019 was the design and construction of the new protective services facility, which brought a price tag of $11,123,108. This allowed the City to Provide adequate space for fire services and enforcement services, and the project is slated for completion in late 2020.
Growth to transportation is on schedule with a total of $3.69 million being spent in 2019 for the design phase of a project intended to improve the City’s arterial road network. Previously Al-Terra Engineering completed a functional plan for Boundary Road. Design work is currently underway. Discussions have been had with shallow utility companies and pipeline companies to determine their needs and an alignment for their infrastructure within the road right of way, according to the City’s report.
The City also made progress on a number of transportation initiatives, with $3,573,665 spent on the purchase of a bus storage building and selection of a contractor to operate and maintain the local bus fleet, $237,550 for the instillation of local bus stops. and the development and construction of a smart fate system to the tune of $195,850 in 2019.
This project will see Tap on and off technology for payment of bus fares across the region and will be completed in partnership with Edmonton, St. Albert, and Strathcona County.
“There has been contractual discussions taking place and some design/equipment requirements specified, said the City. “There has been no request for funds at this point by the partners.”
The report works to align the initiatives and projects with the appropriate strategic priority areas of Council’s strategic plan. It is intended to update Council and the greater community on the status of the initiatives that were approved in the current corporate plan.
Any projects deferred to 2020 are still subject to approval as council has not approved the 2020-2022 corporate plan.
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