City staff have provided more clarity on the costs for major capital projects, including Third Street SE, for council to assist in future budget-making decisions.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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City staff have re-worked an overview of all capital construction projects underway within all municipal departments to provide sitting councillors more clarity on where funds are spent.
Earlier this year council asked staffers to provide clarity and add provisions for economic development reports to be brought forward through the development and infrastructure committee. The updated ‘Projects Costing and Department Collaboration’ report was presented Thursday during a public committee meeting.
“This really helps give council a picture of how much things cost, how much we spend, what projects are we doing, what’s going on. Because I think oftentimes there’s some confusion around that for council,” said Coun. Cheryl Phaff.
Included within the report is a summarized listing of all sustaining capital projects which have been grouped to provide council a better understanding of multi-year projects.
It also includes a detailed breakdown of how much a specific project costs and how much approved funding has been budgeted for its completion.
Several projects often require co-ordination between multiple city departments to ensure underground utilities, surface infrastructure, parks rehabilitation and main ‘franchise’ utilities are all addressed in a single consolidated construction effort.
This collaboration often reduces construction time and its impact on residents and leads to savings and cost efficiencies in an effort to help council better understand the cost and justification for each capital project.
“I believe these will really help you as we get into the 2027-28 (budget) cycle as well because you are going to see a lot of continuation here,” said Pat Bohan, managing director of development and infrastructure.
An example of a cost breakdown is the Third Street SE major rehabilitation project, which has been paused until 2027.
Four separate city departments, including Environmental Utilities, Municipal Works, Electric and Gas are all involved in the project in some scope.
Between the total construction cost estimated at $7 million, the breakdown highlights that the majority of costs, more than $6.8 million, are funded through the Environmental Utilities and Municipal Works departments for water and sanitary replacement, as well as surface reconstruction and improvements.
Mustard Seed update
City committee members were notified there is no current application before the city from the Mustard Seed seeking a new permanent location for a shelter, however city staff are working closely with the public service department to identify potential locations.
Coun. Dan Reynish expressed to staff the importance of ensuring the Mustard Seed, or a similar facility, is open by next winter to support the vulnerable population.
Reynish says Medicine Hat was “lucky” this winter was unseasonably warm, but the city can’t afford to take that risk again, as it could be much colder next winter and many more people may seek help.
“The unhoused in Medicine Hat got a break this winter, there’s still people living on the streets and that’s awful,” he said. “If there is anything we can do to ensure the Mustard Seed or a facility like the Mustard Seed can be opened by the time we get to the next winter, let’s do everything we can together to work on that.”
