The over budget and overdue dog run in City Park got a rough ride from some at council's Aug. 25 meeting.
Staff requested an additional $450,000 for the project as part of second quarter amendments to the 2025 Financial Plan.
Originally approved in 2024, the project was allocated a construction budget of $750,000, and an irrigation budget of $150,000. It included a $150,000 contribution from Phase 1 of the Rose Garden/Dog Run initiative, currently held in reserve. This brought the actual total budget to $900,000, council heard at its Aug. 25 meeting.
However, delays in obtaining archaeological permits pushed the construction timeline from fall 2024 to spring 2025, with completion now anticipated this summer.
As a result, approximately $150,000 was requested to address unforeseen archaeological challenges.
鈥淭he only unanticipated expenditure was the archeological component, and it was not in the original budget,鈥� Geert Bos, public works manager explained.
Staff also asked for an additional $150k to accelerate work on the Multi-Use Pathway, as outlined in the 10-Year Capital Plan, requiring the budget request of $450,000.
Councillor Luke Stack said he was troubled that the $150,000 goes to Westbank First Nation with no way to determine fair value.
鈥淎nd I鈥檓 not saying it鈥檚 not,鈥� Stack added. 鈥淚鈥檓 saying that typically, we would require at least three quotes on a large project like that so that we can analyze them and staff could recommend if this is the appropriate value.鈥�
Stack said he did think the process was transparent, adding it warrants future review.
Coun. Gord Lovegrove applauded staff for its efforts.
鈥淵ou have been innovating and there is going to be some misses, and you owned them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 urge you to keep going forward and apply the lessons that we鈥檙e learning.鈥�
Coun. Ron Cannan saw it differently.
鈥淎s far as the folks on Sunset (Drive) they鈥檝e been asking for a dog park as well,鈥� he noted. 鈥淭hey just wanted a piece of grass and a little fence, it鈥檚 nothing so elaborate. I just think we鈥檝e obviously overspent and it鈥檚 poorly managed.鈥�
Coun. Rick Webber felt council was at least partially responsible.
鈥淚 think council has to take a certain measure of blame for not keeping the leash on this project,鈥� he said.
City Manager Doug Gilchrist pointed out that the city has $440 million in capital projects for 2025, and that the dog park is 0.1 per cent of that budget.
鈥淚 think that tells a really positive story about how many projects we have being delivered on time and in budget in a very difficult environment and at an accellrated pace.鈥�
The dog park is essentially complete. Crews are waiting for fencing to arrive from the Lower Mainland this week.
