The City of New Westminster has identified five projects that are good to go if grants are available.
Following a staff evaluation, council has endorsed several projects for grant submissions in 2013 or early 2014: the ramp component of the Fourth Street overpass leading into Westminster Pier Park; the Queensborough to Quayside pedestrian/bicycle crossing; combined sewer separation; infrastructure related to the Intelligent Cities program; and the Crosstown Greenway on Seventh Avenue, between Fifth and Eighth streets. A staff report considered by council on June 24 stated that the federal government is proposing a new 10-year funding commitment that could result in more than $47 billion in new funding to support local and economic infrastructure.
"We have identified the ones we feel are appropriate," said city administrator Lisa Spitale. "There are five identified here we feel are shelf-ready right now."
Spitale noted that the list is a "living document" that can be changed as progress is made on various projects.
In addition to the five projects deemed shelf-ready, staff also evaluated and prioritized a variety of other projects including: the Sixth Street vehicle overpass that would connect to Quayside Drive; Canada Games Pool upgrades; Phase 2 of Westminster Pier Park; development of the Gasworks sites on 12th Street; seismic upgrades to city hall; a third artificial turf field; a new fire hall; a new library; a new engineering operations yard building; local street paving; raising the dikes in the Queensborough, Quay and Braid Street areas; upgrades to the existing esplanade; an extension to the waterfront greenway; replacement of Bailey Bridge; upgrades to Massey Theatre; a new skateboard park; a new animal shelter; parkade revitalization; and rail crossing improvements.
"This is a 10-year program," said Mark Allison, a senior planner with the city. "What we are doing is getting ready for the initial intake."
A staff report stated that other projects on the list would be recommended for grant applications when they are at a more advanced state of readiness for future submissions during the 10-year grant program.
Mayor Wayne Wright said the city wants to identify projects where "shovels are ready to go" so it can seize the opportunity to get grants that may be available. He noted that he city "hit the jackpot" in the past with federal grants.
Coun. Jonathan Cote said he recognizes the Canada Games Pool project isn't at the stage where it is shelf-ready and able to seek grants, but he hopes that will come soon as it's an aging facility that is used by nearly a million people a year.
Dean Gibson, the city's director of parks, culture and recreation, said the city first needs to determine if it will be looking at renewal, expansion or complete replacement of the existing facility. He said staff will kick start that process and report back to council in September.
Coun. Lorrie Williams questioned whether the city should give more consideration to raising the dikes, given the recent flooding in Calgary.
Jim Lowrie, the city's director of engineering services, said the city has to do further analysis, including seismic assessments, before it's able to apply for grants for dike works.
Coun. Betty McIntosh said she'd like to see street paving moved higher up the priority list for potential grant applications, noting she's heard complaints about the condition of Sixth Street.
"If there is money available to do that type of infrastructure, I don't think we'd want to be bypassing it," she said. "It is a livability issue."
McIntosh said the city is building the Fourth Street overpass into Westminster Pier Park, which includes an elevator and stairs. She feels that the inclusion of a ramp in the project doesn't need to be number 1 on the priority list because access will already be provided to the site and the ramp could be added in the future.
Staff will report back to Canada on issues raised concerning Canada Games Pool replacement, Phase 2 of Westminster Pier Park (the area known as the Timber Wharf), dike improvements and paving of Sixth Street.
