City’s flood control plan pegged at $54 million
The City of Saskatoon’s attempt to relieve distress in flood-prone areas is estimated at $54 million and could result in the two-year closure of a popular park.
A city council committee Tuesday heard that despite the plan’s expense, it would only address about 10 areas, which were chosen to benefit the most homes.
The top priority listed in a city report is the intersection of First Street East and Dufferin Avenue, which would mean the closure of W. W. Ashley Park for two years to convert it into a dry pond.
Laurie Bourgeois and Mike Thibault live in their home near the intersection in the Haultain neighbourhood and appeared at Tuesday’s committee meeting to explain how flooding has changed their lives.
“I hate summer,” Bourgeois told council’s environment, utilities and community services committee. “I used to love summer. I hate summer now.”
The couple’s home was swamped twice during the summer of 2017 when floods hit in July and August.
The plan to address the First/ Dufferin area is pegged at $5.7 million to try to prevent flooding from a one-in-10-year rain for 34 homes. That’s a cost of $154,000 per home.
After the two-year closure to establish a dry pond in W. W. Ashley Park, the park is expected to be available for use as a sports field. The field hosted about 230 games in 2017.
The second spot on the priority list, Ruth Street and Cairns Avenue, would cost $8.3 million to address flooding from a one-in10-year downpour for 34 homes. That’s a cost of $245,000 per home and entails establishing a dry pond in Churchill Park.
The $54 million would only cover the first 10 spots on a list of 30 locations. Most of that money would come from city sources funded by water rates, but the city is hoping for $21.6 million from a federal fund.
The city expects to hear about the federal money in April.
The nine-year plan would address about 300 properties. The project for First and Dufferin is planned to proceed next year regardless of whether federal money is available.
“Now, every rain event is different and there’s always going to be a chance of flooding no matter what municipalities or homeowners do to reduce that risk,” Angela Schmidt, the acting manager of the city’s storm water utility, told the committee. The committee endorsed the plan.
Coun. Cynthia Block, whose ward includes Haultain, wondered whether it is possible to get provincial funding for flood prevention measures.
Block said it seems “ridiculous” to spend more money addressing damage through a disaster assistance program, than spending less to address problem areas.