City council has decided to wait, before approving a proposed list of priority projects.
On Monday night, council decided to defer approving the list, wanting more discussion on what should be considered a priority.
City staff compiled a list of priority infrastructure projects which could be pursued if funding becomes available.
At the top of the list are improvements to the capacity of Riverside Road at an estimated cost of $14 million. The plan calls for an overpass across the Canadian Pacific and Southern Rail tracks on Vye Road. Traffic frequently backs up all the way to Highway 11, which leads to the U.S. border crossing.
Currently, flaggers man the crossing to ensure safety.
Second on the list is a $35 million partnership proposal with the YMCA to create a new community recreation centre and swimming pool. The idea is to construct a 65,000- square-foot facility which would be owned by the city but operated by the YMCA.
Third on the list is a new municipal waste diversion initiative ($1.1 million) that includes an organic waste curbside collection program, including two new collection vehicles.
The remainder of the wish list includes:
• Urban Trail ($3.3 million);
• Brownfield remediation (Riverside site, cost to be determined);
• Cannell Lake water treatment ($10 million);
• UV treatment at JAMES plant ($3.8 million);
• co-generation (electricity from bio-gas) at JAMES plant ($3 million);
• tourism destination and/or public market or cultural facility (no information on costs or concepts are currently available);
• police headquarters expansion – project has yet to be developed; and
• Essendene traffic redesign ($1.6 million)
Council will revist the list at a later date.
