Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff

By Shaun Penner

Municipal Stimulus Program

City Council allocates $8.2 million in stimulus funds for capital projects

Sep 21, 2020 | 6:32 PM

Grande Prairie City Council has allocated $8.2 million it has received as part of the Municipal Stimulus Program. The money will go towards five capital construction projects around the Swan City.

The funding, which comes from a $1.1 billion joint federal-provincial program announced back in July, will go towards projects that were chosen to meet the program’s criteria. That criteria included that the projects cannot increase municipal taxes, have not been previously approved, and will be fully expended by December 31, 2021. The City also maximized the number of projects allowed under the funding, which caps at five.

Mayor Bill Given says he and Council are grateful for the financial support received from this program, which he adds comes at a crucial time amid COVID-19.

“We know that this is a great way to stimulate the overall economic activity, both locally in Grande Prairie, but also nationally,” said Given. “The fact that the federal and provincial governments came through with this funding is something that we are very thankful for.”

As for the projects themselves, the funding allocated includes:

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• $3,75 million for road rehabilitation work, focussing on local road reconstruction, as opposed to more major roads. City administration notes that the work will include sidewalk and curb replacements, storm infrastructure repairs as required, as well as any other improvements needed.
• $600,000 for the repair to the slope near to the stairs on 103 Avenue, which leads into Muskoseepi Park, plus road rehabilitation of 103 Avenue from 102 Street to the entrance of Muskoseepi Park. The existing sidewalk would be replaced, according to City administration, and a new sidewalk on the north side of the road would be installed. A trail will also be looked at during the design phase for those unable to use the stairs to access the park.
• $750,000 for the City-owned building at the South Bear Creek public works yard, which is currently condemned. The work would allow City crews and Technical Search and Rescue to have an adequate shop and bays at the site.
• $2.7 million for priority storm infrastructure repairs and improvements. The work would include storm pipe repairs, surface regrading and potential storm pond expansion to address flooding issues across the city.
• $400,000 for pedestrian crosswalk improvements, including flashing beacons and overhead flashing lights as needed throughout Grande Prairie.

The $400,000 for crosswalk improvements was double what administration recommended to Council. However, a motion was passed to take $200,000 from the funding allocated to road rehabilitation to increase the crosswalk improvements fund. The motion was carried as many Council members have heard of many safety concerns from residents across the City.

“This really offers us the opportunity to leap to another level, in terms of improving pedestrian safety across our community,” said Given. “The idea there being that if we can improve people’s safety and their perception of safety when they are walking, we can make it easier and more enjoyable to walk.”

Given adds that he is grateful that this funding will fast track projects that were originally planned for other capital budget years, but will not mean a tax increase.

“The ability to improve local infrastructure, to the benefit of Grande Prairie residents, and the future of our local economy, is something that I think we can all be thankful for.”