THUNDER BAY -- City administration has built a $47.4-million ward-by-ward infrastructure project list to begin the 2017 municipal budget process.
The list is based on the city's Asset Management Plan as well as previous council direction. City engineering director Kayla Dixon said it was also designed to fit federal and provincial program funding priorities such as transit, social and green infrastructure.
"This external infrastructure funding has not been confirmed, therefore projects may have to be reconsidered when final funding decisions are announced," Dixon wrote in a memo on Friday. "Recommendations will be brought forward to council at that time."
The plan includes road improvements and water drainage investments as well as parks and open spaces capital projects. It draws from capital, tax and rate-supported budgets.
Administration is carrying forward some projects approved in the 2016 budget. In September, council voted to defer $1.4-million in infrastructure spending to ensure the budget would be balanced by year's end.
The list will be subject to council approval.
2017 Infrastructure planning by ward (in alphabetical order)
Current River Ward
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds said he was pleased with the way infrastructure investments in his ward dovetail with climate change adaptation plans. He listed small water and sewer projects as well as LED lighting replacements around Boulevard Lake among his highlights but for Foulds, the investment in ward recreation stood above all.
As council awaits a North End Recreation Master Plan, the city has committed to building a splash pad at the North End Recreation Centre.
"I'm just overjoyed -- and it has been a long time waiting -- that North End Rec. Centre will be getting its splash pad," Foulds announced. "They've been waiting seven years adn the citizens in that area have had a lot of input. There are a lot of kids looking forward to expereinces there and I'm so pleased that's part of the budget."
Paving
Burris St Huron Ave to Margaret St
MacDougall St Algoma St to Cumberland St
Cuyler St Current Ave to Grenville Ave
Cumberland St Gibson Ave to Current River Bridge
Watermain
Egan St Algoma St to Ruttan St
Marion Ave Current Ave to Dewe Ave
Black Bay Rd Dewe Ave to Hodder Ave
Storm Sewer
Egan St Algoma St to Ruttan St
Sanitary Sewer
Egan St Algoma St to Garrard St
Street Lighting
Cumberland St Gibson St to Current River Bridge
Parks & Open Spaces
Boulevard LED light upgrade
Disc Golf Signage
Birch Point Parking Lot replacement
Waddington Park Ball Field #1 and #3 infield replacement
North End Splash Pad
McIntyre Ward
The infrastructure list for Coun. Trevor Giertuga's McIntyre Ward is comparatively short but he believes its priorities are crucial. From addressing safety issues at Valley Park to chip sealing Melbourne Avenue, Giertuga envisaged 2017 as the continuation of a legacy of practical improvemens in his ward.
"Sunflower has been waitng a long time to get its second coat of asphalt," Giertuga said. "As far as the list being short, we've consistently received the lion's share of asphalt rehabilitation over the years so if it's a little short this year, that's not an issue to me."
Surface Treatment
Melbourne Ave Hilldale Rd to Onion Lake Rd
Paving
Balsam St Wardrope Ave to 100m North of Lancaster Ave
Wardrope Ave Hilldale Rd to Dawson Rd
Dawson Rd Skyline Ave to Hilldale Pl
Sunflower St John St Rd to Approximately 200m North
Culvert Replacement
Hilldale Rd
Parks & Open Spaces
Valley Park Playground Renewal
McKellar Ward
McKellar Coun. Paul Pugh was unavailable for comment.
Paving
Fortune St Burbidge St to dead end (Developer responsible for sanitary sewer)
Northern Ave Memorial Ave to Railway Tracks
Bernard St Cameron St to Marks St
Miles St Vickers St to Wellington St
Connolly St McTavish St to McPherson St
Watermain
Banning St Bay St to John St
Court St Bay St to John St
First Ave Memorial Ave to Fort William Rd
Archibald St Leith St to Dease St
Brodie St Dease St to Southern Ave
Sanitary Sewer
Banning St Bay St to John St
Court St Bay St to John St
First Ave Memorial Ave to Fort William Rd
Archibald St Leith St to Dease St
Storm Sewer
Brodie St Neebing River to Dease St
First Ave Memorial Ave to Fort William Rd
Sidewalks
Alberta St Pacific Ave to Atlantic Ave
McIntosh St Pacific Ave to Connolly St
McLaughlin St Connolly St to Christie St
Brodie St Dease St to Southern Ave
Archibald St Leith St to Cameron St
Balmoral St Miles St to Wellington St
Streetlighting
Brodie St Dease St to Southern Ave
Archibald St Leith St to Dease St
Miscellaneous
Railway Crossing Improvement on Memorial Ave south of Dunlop St
Parks & Open Spaces
Minnesota Park adult fitness rubber safety surface and sidewalks
Academy Park Playground and light renewal
WW1 Memorial Project
Lobbers South Ball Field infield replacement
Oliver Rd. Tennis Court/Half Court Basketball
Neebing Ward
Coun. Linda Rydholm feels Neebing will be receiving its fair share of infrastructure planning, particularly related to much-needed paving. Her question throughout the budget process will be what degree of partnership senior levels of government will take on to improve water systems, a challenge besetting Neebing's residential and semi-rural neighbourhoods.
"Water drainage continues to be a big issue in Neebing ward," Rydholm said. "I look forward to seeing what federal funding will be forthcoming to help it this year."
Paving
Demeuron Ave Rosslyn Rd to Dead End
Pomona Dr Rosslyn Rd to Fortuna Dr
Empson Ave Almira Ave to Freeman St
Kerega Rd Broadway Ave to Irving Bay
Irving Bay Kerega Rd to Dead End
Hawkridge Dr Mount Forest Blvd to Southcliff Ave
Sidewalk
Arthur St Thunder Bay Expressway to Valhalla Inn Rd
Culvert Replacement
Trendiak Rd at Loch Lomond Rd
Parks & Open Spaces
Vickers Heights Playground concrete pad, benches, bike rack and accessible walkway
Parks & Open Spaces
Vickers Heights Playground concrete pad, benches, bike rack and accessible walkway
Northwood Ward
The plan would bring Northwood the final infrastructure renewal recommended after the 2012 flood but 2017 could also be a hinge year for the ward when it comes to recreation. Having fought alongside a movement to fund the greenhouse at the Thunder Bay Centennial Botanical Conservatory, Northwood Coun. Shelby Ch'ng is also turning her attention to the potential of Chapples Park, a plan consultants will bring to council in the spring.
"This opportunity is definitely to rally around Chapples Park," Ch'ng said.
"It is contingent on provincial and federal funding. But whatever I can do to get this passed by city council, I think the soccer community will benefit as well as the people who participate in recreation in Northwood."
Paving
Ford St Victoria Ave to Arthur St
Ferndale Cres Entire loop
Storm Sewer
James St Churchill Dr to Neebing River
James St Riverview Dr to Neebing River
Dalhousie Dr Relief Sewer to James St
Parks & Open Spaces
Chapples Park Masterplan
Chapples Park twin turf soccer fields
Multi-Use Trail through Con College Harbour Exp to Atikokan Dr, bridge and lights
Conservatory Greenhouse Renewal
Red River Ward
Watermain and road replacements on Logan Avenue are "way overdue" according to Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon but he anticipates the High Street retaining wall will be the most controversial item built his ward over the coming budget season.
"The retaining wall is going to be a coin toss. There are a number of councilors that are concerned about the cost, clearly," McKinnon said. "It's up to $2.4 million now and I know the questions that are going to be asked. I'll be one of the ones asking them."
Watermain
Crescent Ave Logan St to Bruce St
Central Ave Ext. Balmoral St to Central Ave Taphouse
Storm Sewer
Empress Ave Windsor St to John St to McIntyre River
Prospect St Relief Tupper St Approximately 200 m North
Sidewalks
Crescent Ave Logan St to Madeline St
Structure Work
High St Retaining Wall at Cornwall Ave Replacement
Parks & Open Spaces
Hospital to River Terrace granular trail
Baseball Central field upgrades for 2017 World Junior Baseball Championships
Junot Park LED light upgrade
Westfort Ward
Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo is pleased with the number of upgrades to his ward but said he'll be fighting for changes to the city's plans for Selkirk Street in order to preserve its historical value..
"I think we should maintain the look of that particular street as is," Virdiramo said. "It's one of the only streets in the city that has islands from an aesthetic perspective and a historical perspective. So when the budget deliberations come up, I'll be asking council to put the money in."
Paving
Kelly St Empire St to Walsh St
Mary St James St to Crawford St
Selkirk St Moodie St to Arthur St
Sandy Beach Rd Whiskey Jack Cres to Grand Point Rd (Granular improvements)
Watermain
Carlton Pl Empire Ave to Dead End
Sanitary Sewer
Carlton Pl Empire Ave to Dead End
General/All Wards
Miscellaneous Asphalt Patching
Cement Mortar Watermain Lining
Cathodic Protection of Watermain
LED Streetlight Replacement Arterial and Collectors
Copenhagen Rd Paving (Boundary road with Shuniah Twp)
Park Identification and Trail Signs
Park Masterplans (Parkdale, N.Neebing, Northwood Playfield, West End and Vickers Park)
Playground Designs (Vickers Park, Centennial Park and Boulevard)
Tree Keeper Software
