Infrastructure backlog continues as Richmond Hill adopts 2021 capital budget plan

Muirhead Crescent water and sewage infrastructure, Bethesda Side Road reconstruction among affected projects

Yorkregion.com
November 16, 2020

A number of infrastructure projects across Richmond Hill may not move forward as previously planned in 2021.

City council approved a $38-million draft capital budget at the Nov. 10 budget committee meeting, which would push back a list of projects, including road construction, intersection upgrading and library equipment replacement.

The majority of the capital budget is funded by non-tax sources, such as federal gas tax grants, the stormwater and development charges.

At an earlier budget meeting in June, council set a maximum of $15 million that could be funded by property tax-supported reserve funds in an effort to ensure the “wise use" of all resources available.

However, the amount of tax-supported funding originally requested by various city departments and services totalled about $21 million, almost $7 million beyond the target set by council.

City staff put forward a recommendation to make changes to a range of projects in order to reduce the funding required for 2021.

“This does, however, present a backlog for a second year in a row and pushes some of the projects beyond the original intended year of delivery,” said Paolo Masaro, executive director of the city’s infrastructure and engineering services.

Masaro, who presented the 2021 draft capital budget to council, said staff were working on long-term and sustainable solutions to the deliveries of the affected projects.

The executive director assumed the new role in September within the city’s planning and infrastructure services as Richmond Hill moved from a four-commission to a three-commission structure of government.

In his presentation, Masaro listed 11 big-ticket projects that would be delayed, removed or reduced due to the budget adjustments.

The affected major projects include the Muirhead Crescent water and sewage infrastructure, with an estimated cost of over $6 million, and the Bethesda Side Road reconstruction project, which would be phased to free up over $3 million next year.

Meanwhile, two budget items -- collection development and furniture and fixture -- requested by the Richmond Hill Public Library were cut from the budget to spare over $1 million in tax-supported funding.

The draft budget "lines up with" the library's plan to focus on using unspent funds to complete necessary space enhancement projects while extending the life of the existing furniture and equipment, Richmond Hill Public Library CEO Darren Solomon said in response.

"It also allows us to focus on improving our digital experience at a time when more and more community members are accessing the library online," Solomon added.

The $38-million capital budget prioritizes the improvement of city assets and infrastructure to support a modern, sustainable municipality, according to the city's press release.

“Our 2021 capital budget is similarly focused on residents as we update important infrastructure like community centres and snow-clearing equipment,” Mayor Dave Barrow said.

The city will proceed with a number of major projects in 2021, including water main replacement on Major Mackenzie Drive ($4.7 million), HVAC and roof replacement on Elgin West Community Centre ($4 million), as well as fleet replacement -- including ice resurfacer, mowers and tractors ($1.5 million) -- and the Richmond Hill Centre subway project ($1.3 million).

In addition, Richmond Hill will invest to update two existing community parks -- Dove Park and Bridgeview Park. The city has budgeted $253,700 for the design work of both.

Earlier this year, Richmond Hill council set a maximum 0.5 per cent municipal property tax increase for the 2021 operating budget, the lowest in more than 15 years, according to the city.

The capital budget will go to the Nov. 25 council meeting for final approval.