Residents lauded Cold Lake City Council's focus on infrastructure spending at the 2016 open house.
Residents lauded Cold Lake City Council's focus on infrastructure spending at the 2016 open house.
Cold Lake city councillors and staff were kept busy with inquires about water utilities, storm water drainage plans and transit at the city's open house held at the Energy Centre on Jan. 14.
Resident Yves Laganiere came to the open house to see what city officials had to say about storm water drains and to talk about a lack of adequate drainage in his area. Azam Khan, general manager of infrastructure services, was at hand to address his concerns.
"I think it's great to get information," said Laganiere. "Just by looking at the people here, this is probably the best turnout they've had for an open house, and it shows people are interested in their city."
One of the water issues the city is tackling is the Meadows storm water trunk extension. The city is deepening palm creek and completing a new storm line on Highway 28 and 55th Avenue. It will be approximately two metres deeper than existing elevations, servicing the Meadows and Brady Heights.
Also curious to find out about more about the city's water management and roadwork plan were members of the Cold Lake chapter of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), which is the representative body for the development industry in Cold Lake.
"Knowing how the city is going to be expanding over the following 10 years or 15 years is very important because we have a vested interest in where the subdivisions, future lots and housing lots will be so you have to be aware of all of that because you have to tie into the systems that the city provides," said Gilles Huzinga, vice president of UDI.
Through a municipal bylaw, the city can ask developers to prepay for planned environment and utility structures like new waterlines in subdivisions. The open house gave developers and realtors an opportunity to see what the city has in store in terms of roads, waterlines and storm water drainage in such subdivisions.
"It is so essential to share this information with the community," Huzinga noted, adding that information on roads and water service are crucial for developers to notify customers. "We're investors in the community, we work in the community, we live in the community, and, to have this going on, thank goodness."
Some residents also praised council's decision to spend on infrastructure investments during slower economic times.
"I'm glad that they're taking on some of these big projects because they can keep people hopefully in our area working," said Ryan Lefebvre, a broker with Coldwell Banker Home Team Realty in Cold Lake. "They're more than willing to explain what's going to happen and it's nice to see the numbers on the board."
As part of the 2016 Cold Lake capital budget, around $4.8 million is set aside for environmental and utility infrastructure improvements and approximately $8.4 million for roadway infrastructure improvements.
Residents also had a chance to view plans for the future of the Cold Lake Transit System, which became operational in August 2015.
"I came specifically for the transit system because my kids are old enough now that they are using it all over the community," said Theresa Nickel, an employee of Hearts for Healthcare. "I think the transit system is fantastic."
Cold Lake Transit will continue to operate north and south routes for free in 2016. A Kinosoo route was added in December, which costs $5 for a return trip. The city is expecting to add additional routes and bus shelters as demand for the service expands
City councillors and staff were thrilled with the better than expected turnout. It was the first time the open house was held at the Energy Centre.
"Our council and administration are very open in terms of putting everything forward and right now feedback has been very positive," said Mayor Craig Copeland. "Council is halfway through their term and during the budget process of 2016 we had finished the 10-year capital vision so we decided to come to the public with it and get some feedback."
Around 100 people showed up at the morning session of the open house, where city staff and council members also talked to residents about the Energy Centre expansion and the budget.
