If residents of the Fourth Avenue West area or others heading to and from Third Ave West are going to see a return to service for the walkway and staircase that connects them with the downtown core, the city seemingly would like to tackle the cost of repair by way of an additional 1.07 percent tax increase above last night's recommendation from staff of a 7.7 percent tax hike for 2024.
The proposed funding for the work was noted in the Budget documentation as part of discretionary project taxation up for review of the Council membership.
The taxation option was introduced by CFO Bomben on Monday night
"Although not included in the Budget presently, should Council direct it, funds in the amount of 250,000 dollars would be necessary to make the required improvements to reopen the staircase between Fourth Avenue West and Third Avenue West. The cost is proposed to be funded through taxes and would result in an additional increase"
The singling out of the long closed, but much discussed active transportation conduit in the community made for just one item of many on Budget night Monday.
The topic generating a bit of discussion first from Councillor Nick Adey who did have a few thoughts towards it, tying the walkway project to a previous initiative on the west side of town, that of the Odd Eidsvik Park plans..
"I appreciate that this project is of great interest to the community members that brought the concern forward. I also appreciate that it may be something that we choose to pursue this year, or choose not to.
The point I would like to make about it, is that in 2023 in the 2023 Budget, we allocated 50,000 dollars from reserve or surplus, to the Odd Eidsvik Park improvement being pursued by a neighbourhood advocacy group.
And I think it was to be an in-kind contribution, that project was delayed due to other funding challenges and we decided earlier this year; because it was sitting idle at that point, to shift that amount in order to investigate the cost of the Fourth Avenue pathway.
I think it's fair to say that both these initiatives are the product of pretty broad neighbourhood consensus, in both those neighbourhoods.
So I note that in the 2024 Budget, the Odd Eidsvik Park funding has not been rolled over and the City Manager referred to some of the difficult decisions that have to be made in terms of trimming this as much as we can and I appreciate that.
So I think it's understandable, however, I think and this is by way of comment, I think we need to maintain an awareness that there is a link historically now between these two projects.
I don't feel that we should rob Peter to pay Paul without paying Peter back, although I'm not sure it's going to survive the test of this particular round of budgets.
I do think that we need to make the decisions we make about the Fourth Avenue pathway with the Odd Eidsvik Park commitment that was made earlier in mind, so I would like them not to get lost
Ms. Bomben noted that the city was still working towards grant funding for the park.
"Staff is live to the park, up at Eidsvik Park, we are still pursing grants, it's just presently we don't have any information on any grants that are available.
This is the budget that is being proposed right now, but we do anticipate that we will be coming forward, probably in the spring with any types of amendments which we hope will include the Eidsvik Park"
Councillor Barry Cunningham picked up on the theme of grant access and where the city could potentially pursue funding for the pathway project.
"I know staff is quite diligent when it comes to applying for grants and that, but with the Third/Fourth Avenue Stairs - Pathway, because it involves an aspect of transportation and people aren't having a direct access from that area of town to downtown they are probably driving.
I don't know if there is you know, like I say I know you're quite diligent applying for grants and everything ... I brought it up earlier a possible grant or something to alleviate any traffic ... car traffic that people are using.
I don't if it's a different angle that you can look at or not, but it's just something that possibly we can get some funding through a transportation grant"
Mayor Pond observed towards that suggestion, that he was sure that the "Team was on it"
For her reply, Ms. Bomben noted "that we like other people's money, not the city's money or the taxpayers money, but we're always looking for other grants"
Considering some of the public feedback of the Spring on the status of the walkway, it's likely to be a topic of some note for those that may wish to comment on the Budget presentation of Monday.
Those consultations come at Coast Mountain College tomorrow night at 7PM, Back at City Hall on November 15th prior to the City Council session that night.
Residents can also comment to the topic or other Budget issues by email at finance@princerupert.ca or by phone at 250-627-0914.
Whether Council sharpens the pencils towards other areas of the Budget to accumulate the 250,000 dollars seemingly required for the work; adds on the 250,000 dollars to the 7.7 percent total, or chooses to defer the project for another year ... it could all make for an interesting part of the consultation process ahead, as well as the council decision making to come before December.
The discussion on the walkway proposal can be reviewed from the video presentation starting at the 37 minute mark.
Some of the history of the Walkway discussion this year between Council and residents can be reviewed below:
October 23 -- Fourth Avenue Walkway status is subject of report for Council tonight
October 13 -- Brush clearing along 4th Avenue walkway, prelude to further geo tech investigation
September 1 -- Prince Rupert's Tale of Two Staircases
May 24 -- Power of petition, attendance in gallery brings a second look at status of 4th Avenue walkway to downtown
May 23 -- Petition Push calls for City to repair walkway/staircase between 4th Avenue West and 3rd West
May 5 -- Plans for Staircase pathway repairs not on immediate horizon for City Operations Department
The walkway had also made for a short comment back on April 11th, that during the Council comment period at the end of the session.
More notes from the Monday Budget Presentation can be explored from our archive page.
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