Council approves new police chopper
Police will likely hover over Edmonton in a new singleengine helicopter instead of the twin-engined model they requested after councillors approved the purchase Tuesday with conditions.
Following hours of procedural wrangling, the $3.3-million deal passed 7-6 in what Mayor Don Iveson called “a prudent move.”
“I do support the aerial operations of the Edmonton Police Service.”
The purchase price includes about $1.1 million to trade in Air-2, more valuable than the older Air-1.
Proposals to buy the twinengined for $7.2 million, or two singles for a total of $7.1 million, were defeated.
But before any money is released, police must report back, likely next year, on where the chopper would be stored and maintained.
They must also look at the available equipment options and issues such as noise.
As well, Iveson will work with police and the federal government to see if it’s possible to move the existing fleet to Canadian Forces Base Edmonton from Villeneuve.
While police indicated last year that idea won’t fly, Iveson said this conclusion was coloured by their desire for a heavy twin-engined chopper and a heliport.
“Because of the police service’s fixation on this giant helicopter, the answers given to me were not all satisfactory, which is part of what’s behind this.”
Police are now looking at buying the same AS-350 used by the RCMP so they can share maintenance, training and space at Edmonton International Airport.
However, the noisy AS-350 might not be the best one to fly over a built-up city, Iveson said. “If there’s some efficiencies for maintenance there, I think that’s a great outcome, but again council just wants to get all those details confirmed.”
He’ll contact manufacturer Airbus Canada to find out if any suitable, quieter models will be available in a few years when a second helicopter is needed.
Although Iveson doubts the decision to buy a new helicopter will be overturned, Coun. Andrew Knack is hopeful the project can still be defeated.
“It’s a compromise for those councillors who wanted to support it, but didn’t want to spend as much,” he said.
Other additions to the city’s capital budget include: $3.8 million to design the Winspear Centre expansion. The centre intends to spend $52 million, with $13 million from the city, building a performance hall, multipurpose rooms, automated parking garage and daycare on its 97th Street parking lot. $12 million toward the $40-million Telus World of Science expansion. The Aurora Initiative will feature an upgraded Zeidler Star Theatre, new galleries and an Early Childhood Education Centre. $5.1 million to add a daycare, credit union and café to the new Westwood transit garage, subject to a report coming in April.
Councillors defeated an attempt to downgrade the complete overhaul of the Stanley A. Milner Library that will start in 2016 to more modest repairs. gkent@edmontonjournal.com