- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

Owen Sound City Council discussed most of the items from the proposed $16 million 2019 capital budget today, leaving a few for the January 23rd meeting at which the operating budget will also be considered.

Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan made it clear from the start - “There are only two ways to reduce infrastructure deficit – increase funding allocated to capital – decrease level of service.”  Funding for capital expenses comes from taxation, provincial and federal grants and gas taxes and debentures - loans the City makes to itself.

The Council certainly did not give carte blanche to staff recommendations. Mayor Ian Boddy questioned whether 40 or 45% of  the capital budget items being requested were not  "enhancements" rather than simply maintaining or replacing existing infrastructure, and Deputy Mayor Brian O'Leary said he was disappointed in the bottom line and wanted staff to come back with a budget less demanding of the taxpayers.

Councillor Carol Merton said she and city residents wanted reports back on how effective budget investments were in achieving the intended results.
In the discussion of the installation of water refill stations, previously approved as part of a five-year plan, Councillor Merton asked "As environmental stewards, are we achieving our intention of reducing plastic? Are we measuring?" Pam Coulter, Director of Community Services replied that "the units count the volume of water, so we can say how many bottles were not used."

Harrison Park received a lot of discussion, as ongoing work continues on roads,signage and electrical and water infrastructure. The buildings in the park are among 78 buildings and structures that the City owns or manages, and the park roads are among those that need asphalt resurfacing, for which there is a $672,000 budget for 2019. The decision was made to postpone repairs on the road between the Seniors' Centre and the pool, in favour of some other more-travelled stretches in the city.

$2,570,000 is being invested in the first of four phases of construction to implement the Downtown River Precinct plan. According to Dennis Kefalas, Director of Public Works, only 21% of that will come from tax revenue, so we're getting “a great bang for our buck”.

The staff report says, “roadway and servicing infrastructure is deteriorated with a watermain dating from approximately 1885 and the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment has been completed and engineering has commenced on the preferred alternative. The design includes realigning 1st Ave E from the west side of the Market Building to the east side of the building and converting traffic to one-way southbound operation.

Reconstruction of the road, City Hall parking lot, hardscaping the Market Square and River Promenade, landscaping along the top of the River bank, a new sidewalk on the east side of the road and replacement of the Market Building canopy, drainage/storm water improvements are included in that cost."

Over $4 million is being requested for City water and wastewater, including extensive watermain work being paired with the 10th Street bridge replacement.

The recommendation concerning the Courthouse and Jail went by without discussion. “The Jail portion of the building is not designated under the heritage registry. The condition of the Jail is unacceptable and it is in the City's best interest to remove this portion of the building. The funds requested will be for a structural engineer consultant to investigate the removal of the Jail portion of the building and for a DSS (designated substance survey) for the building to ensure the City is complaint to meet regulations as outlined in the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 3."
Full details of the proposed budget are available here, and will be updated as changes are made.