Council vote unanimous in approving $22.8M in enhanced capital spending
‘Districting’ plan moves ahead for neighbourhoods
This year’s enhanced capital budget includes $5 million for “districting ” city neighbourhoods and $1 million for a boat and improvements to Peche Island.
In previous years, $10 million was dealt out to councillors for projects — like improving residential roads and parks — that residents were calling for but weren’t included in administration’s capital budget. But the list recommended by Mayor Drew Dilkens, and approved unanimously Tuesday, totals $22.8 million
It includes about 19 road or sewer projects, more than a dozen parks and recreation projects, walking paths, street and pedestrian lighting, and many other types of projects including the $5 million districting plan that involves transforming the downtown, Sandwich, Walkerville, Riverside, Ford City and a new Asian Village along Wyandotte Street into distinctive neighbourhoods.
Several of the most pricey projects — including districting and the Peche Island improvements — are on the mayor’s list.
The list also includes $1 million in ward funds, split among the 10 councillors with $500,000 allocated immediately.
There’s a rule that councillors can’t spend the money in the six months leading up to the Oct. 22 municipal election. There is also $250,000 to pay for lighting and other safety measures in alleys and $250,000 for the Windsor Film Festival to buy projectors, sound equipment and other items.
There will be $300,000 to complete streetscaping on Erie Street, pedestrian lighting worth $158,000 on Ottawa Street, street lights costing $70,000 on Banwell Road, $75,000 for a new electrical box on Maiden Lane to supply the Downtown Farmers’ Market, $60,000 for improvements to the Capitol Theatre and $75,000 for a new walking path from Daytona Avenue to California Avenue.
The $1 million for Peche Island includes a new boat to bring people back and forth to the city-owned island, as well as improvements to paths and signage.
Other park projects include $460,000 for redevelopment of Stodgell Park, $500,000 for new bike paths, a new $124,000 rubber base for the playground at Gary Dugal Park, $475,000 for a new path in Realtor Park, $325,000 for the second phase of improvements to Wigle Park, $400,000 for a new washroom at Elizabeth Kishkon Park, and $400,000 for an accessible washroom at Riverside Park.
The road and sewer projects include $1 million for a roundabout at Devonshire Road and Riverside Drive, $1.5 million to reconstruct crumbling College Avenue from Campbell Avenue to McKay Avenue and $1.4 million to reconstruct two blocks of Byng Avenue which has deteriorating asphalt and ditches on both sides.
“I’ve been waiting 43 years to have the ditch in front of my house filled in, but I’ve never wanted it more than now,” Byng Avenue resident Donald Tousignant said Monday as he addressed council to ask for the project.
Last year, he said, he was trying to mow the grass in the ditch when he fell and ended up with the mower on top of him. Luckily the safety switch cut the motor in time, but then a passing car dislodged some asphalt from the road and he was struck by a golfball-sized chunk. Cutting the lawn has become hazardous, he said.
“Please, I’ve waited a long time,” he implored councillors.
“It just amazes me that it’s 2018 and we still have ditches in front of our houses,” Tousignant continued.
Other road projects include: engineering work worth $250,000 for future work on Crawford Avenue; mill and paving work on Victoria Avenue worth $150,000; $500,000 of reconstruction on Lillian Street; engineering work costing $105,000 to prepare for a sewer project on Windermere Road; $510,000 for reconstruction of St. Luke Road; $1 million worth of work on Pillette Road from Seminole Street to the VIA tracks; reconstruction of St. Julien Street costing $155,000; reconstruction on Wyandotte Street from St. Rose Avenue to Janisse Drive; mill and pave Annie Street for $90,000; reconstruction of Reginald Street costing $375,000; and reconstruction of Northwood Street, costing $750.000.