Editor:
With respect to The Record’s June 30 article headlined “City applies for grant to help vulnerable seniors.” Both the City’s supervisor of community planning, John Stark, and Coun. Chinu Das spoke to this $15,000 grant application, and council’s concern for our city’s vulnerable seniors is admirable.
However, at the same council meeting, none of the councillors commented on the dramatic $13.8 million increase in new funding for the 2022 Capital Budget. That’s a significant number that will have a financial impact on all Royal City residents.
The cost for the new Aquatic and Community Centre has increased by $8 million, because of soil conditions and other inflationary costs, as well as the addition of a construction contingency. This is a 15% increase in construction costs so far for this project. I wonder why poor soil conditions would come as a surprise? Weren’t geotechnical tests performed prior to asking for bids on a $52 million dollar project?
As a result of the increase, both the $1 million EV charging infrastructure at civic buildings and the $90,000 for the artificial turf field are ‘temporarily realigned.’ Is postponing these two projects meant to offset a portion of the $8 million increase?
There was also an additional $4.5 million increase in the budget for, as Patrick Johnstone put it, “…the unsexy sewer rehabilitation projects.” That number is almost double the original budget. Reasons given are the delay in starting the projects, supply chain issues, longer lead time for materials, and labour issues.
This raises a lot of questions, but my top four: Why did council not take this out of the Consent Agenda? Why did The Record not report the staggering $13.8 million increase? And, most importantly: what other initiatives will be substantially overbudget because these projects are costing so much more? Finally: what is council doing to avoid future surprises? There is a disturbing lack of transparency at all levels on this issue.
Rick Folka, candidate for council, New West Progressives
