City council is set to hear an update on significant local capital projects that have been underway or completed as of July 1.
The report, set to go to council at its meeting Monday, Nov. 18, provides an overview of the expenditures, progress, and status of these projects, focusing on the use of funds, timelines and outcomes.
Debt funding continues to play a significant role in financing large-scale infrastructure improvements, the report states. As of mid-2024, several key projects have been progressing with varying degrees of completion.
By July 31 the city had committed a total of $169.7 million across 30 major capital projects, the report states.
These funds were allocated from a mix of debt funding, endowment funds, and other sources.
The total expenditure to date stands at $70.46 million, representing a 41.5 per cent budget usage across all projects. A few projects have faced delays, the report states, due to supply chain issues, labour shortages, and resource limitations, but most are expected to be completed within their revised timelines.
Among the projects in the report:
Mobile Equipment Replacement (Project No. 0431)
• Original budget: $7,087,951
• Total budget: $7,087,951
• Actual expenditure: $1,704,008
• Budget usage: 24 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Purchase)
• Completion forecast: Ongoing, with some equipment expected to be delivered late fall 2024 or early spring 2025. The project involves the purchase of various vehicles, including a fire pumper unit, street sweeper, and garbage packers.
Four Seasons Leisure Pool replacement (Project No. 1504)
• Original budget: $35,000,000
• Total budget: $39,126,000
• Actual expenditure: $38,427,821
• Budget usage: 98.2 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Build)
• Completion forecast: Q3 2026
• Comments: This pool replacement project opened in November 2022, with ongoing warranty work and seasonal tasks. Delays have occurred due to labour shortages and deficiency work, but the project remains largely on budget.
Aquatic Centre building envelope and mechanical upgrade (Project No. 3108)
• Original budget: $8,580,000
• Amended budget: $37,030,000 (after a $22.15M increase)
• Actual expenditure: $412,561
• Budget usage: 1.1 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Design)
• Completion forecast: Q4 2026 for construction, Q1 2027 for financial completion
• Comments: Design work is currently underway, and a $6.3M grant has been awarded to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Additional phases are planned, funded through the recent debt borrowing.
Civic facility roofs replacements (Project No. 3243)
• Original budget: $4,670,450
• Amended budget: $3,811,564
• Actual expenditure: $3,667,284
• Budget usage: 96.2 per cent
• Phase: Completing (Close Out)
• Completion forecast: Q4 2024
• Comments: This program replaced roofs on multiple civic facilities from 2019 to 2024. The last few roofs (including at Kin 2 and CN Centre) are now completed.
Endowment funding is being utilized for the decommissioning of old facilities and related works. These projects are making progress, although a few are slightly behind schedule, the report states.
Former Fire Hall No. 1 demolition (Project No. 3362)
• Total budget: $760,884
• Actual expenditure: $563,795
• Budget usage: 74.1 per cent
• Phase: Completing (Decommission)
• Completion forecast: Q1 2025
• Comments: The demolition was completed in 2023. The project is now focused on lighting design and site redevelopment, with completion expected in 2025.
Four Seasons Leisure Pool demolition (Project No. 3363)
• Total budget: $1,949,997
• Actual expenditure: $952,465
• Budget usage: 48.8 per cent
• Phase: Completing (Decommission)
• Completion forecast: Q1 2025
• Comments: Demolition was completed, and the site is being transformed into a temporary parking lot. The project has faced delays due to labor shortages, but landscaping and lighting are expected to be completed by fall 2024.
Projects funded through other sources, such as grants, municipal reserves, or alternative funding mechanisms, have seen significant progress in 2024.
Road rehabilitation (Project No. 0399)
• Original budget: $6,700,000
• Actual expenditure: $2,477,953
• Budget usage: 37 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Build)
• Completion forecast: Q4 2024
• Comments: Approximately 64 per cent of the road rehabilitation work has been completed as of mid-2024. The program is on track for completion by year-end.
Sanitary collection system renewal (Project No. 1031)
• Original budget: $1,009,927
• Actual expenditure: $150,015
• Budget usage: 14.9 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Build)
• Completion forecast: Q4 2024
• Comments: Sewer relining is underway, and the work is expected to be completed in the fall.
Sanitary forcemain and liftstations upgrade (Project No. 1492)
• Original budget: $1,193,445
• Actual expenditure: $164,461
• Budget usage: 13.8 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Design)
• Completion forecast: Q4 2025
• Comments: Work on the SCADA system renewal is progressing, with ongoing substation installations expected to continue into 2025.
Kin Centre refrigeration upgrades (Project No. 3368)
• Original budget: $4,695,000
• Actual expenditure: $3,282,027
• Budget usage: 69.9 per cent
• Phase: In progress (Build)
• Completion forecast: Q1 2025
• Comments: Refrigeration upgrades are complete, and heat recovery is in progress. This project is funded in part by a CleanBC grant.
