Mayor Nolan Crouse threw another curve ball into future budget debates about the relocation of the AltaLink power line.
Crouse today introduced two motions. The first would see the power line relocation moved to the "unfunded" list in the 2009 budget. That means the city would not put dollars toward the move next year.
The second motion was to return the $300,000 the province gave the city for the estimated $1-million relocation. Crouse also wants to decline the $450,000 that AltaLink pledged for the move.
Council won't debate either motion until Nov. 26 at the earliest.
Showing posts with label Power line. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power line. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Power line, again
It was a squeaker, but city council has agreed to look at the AltaLink power line relocation in the 2009 budget. (For the recent history, visit this archived post).
The narrow 4-3 majority came after council's earlier proposal to have the province and AltaLink spend millions each to bury the line fell flat.
Monday's decision does not guarantee anything, as the relocation could be defeated at budget time. Coun. Carol Watamaniuk pleaded with her peers just to get it that far.
"Please don’t shoot it down yet. Please let it go to the budget process and let’s at least take a look at it properly there.”
Watamaniuk's plea came after council shot down Coun. Lorie Garritty's attempt to make option three — running the line along the east side of Ray Gibbon Drive — a specific business case in the budget.
Coun. Len Bracko argued strongly against the idea, calling the $1-million relocation a "waste of taxpayers' dollars." (The city would pay one third, or $450,000 with a contingency built in).
The narrow 4-3 majority came after council's earlier proposal to have the province and AltaLink spend millions each to bury the line fell flat.
Monday's decision does not guarantee anything, as the relocation could be defeated at budget time. Coun. Carol Watamaniuk pleaded with her peers just to get it that far.
"Please don’t shoot it down yet. Please let it go to the budget process and let’s at least take a look at it properly there.”
Watamaniuk's plea came after council shot down Coun. Lorie Garritty's attempt to make option three — running the line along the east side of Ray Gibbon Drive — a specific business case in the budget.
Coun. Len Bracko argued strongly against the idea, calling the $1-million relocation a "waste of taxpayers' dollars." (The city would pay one third, or $450,000 with a contingency built in).
Bracko then dismissed the findings of the environmental report — written by an AltaLink staffer — that identified the AltaLink line as being in a "high risk" location for bird strikes. He claimed option three would make the problem worse, and mar the view of Lois Hole park east of Ray Gibbon Drive.
Watamaniuk was puzzled with Bracko's statements. She noted option three was supported by the city's office of environment, the province, AltaLink and council's environmental advisory committee.
"[AltaLink is] so convinced they’re willing to put good dollars into this, as is Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation."
Coun. Gareth Jones — who in the past has been far from convinced about any of the proposed options — provided the swing vote needed to revisit the issue at budget. Jones conceded he has doubts about the price tag, given the new alignment would cross the former Riel Park landfill. He called the area a "money pit."
In addition to looking at the issue at budget, staff were instructed to look into possible federal or provincial grants as a way to pay for the city's share.
Watamaniuk was puzzled with Bracko's statements. She noted option three was supported by the city's office of environment, the province, AltaLink and council's environmental advisory committee.
"[AltaLink is] so convinced they’re willing to put good dollars into this, as is Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation."
Coun. Gareth Jones — who in the past has been far from convinced about any of the proposed options — provided the swing vote needed to revisit the issue at budget. Jones conceded he has doubts about the price tag, given the new alignment would cross the former Riel Park landfill. He called the area a "money pit."
In addition to looking at the issue at budget, staff were instructed to look into possible federal or provincial grants as a way to pay for the city's share.
Read more in Wednesday's Gazette.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Power line pass
City council's pitch to have the province and AltaLink pay millions to bury the Big Lake power line has hit a brick wall.
The Gazette's environment reporter Kevin Ma has full details in today's paper. I'll just provide a brief recap.
The Gazette's environment reporter Kevin Ma has full details in today's paper. I'll just provide a brief recap.
The gist: council is back at square one. They can either pony up or stick with the status quo.
The update: council met with St. Albert MLA Ken Allred on Monday, who advised the province won't contribute any more dollars. Allred even sounded somewhat critical of council's decision.
"It seems the city is sort of reneging here a bit," he said.
AltaLink officials also said the more expensive deal will not fly.
The future: city manager Bill Holtby will follow up with Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to confirm Allred's feedback. Then he'll report back to council.
The issue: a 138-kilovolt line is blamed for bird deaths and viewed by some as a blight near the future entrance to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park. The relocation is not in St. Albert's 2009-11 capital budget.
The history: council last month balked at paying $450,000 to join a partnership and move the power line from its current path near the Big Lake Environment Support Society viewing platform. The new alignment would see the power line run along Ray Gibbon Drive. Power line owner AltaLink had pledged $450,000 for the move, while Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation gave the city $300,000.
The decision: council instead asked the province and AltaLink to foot the bill to bury the line, a $6.3 million cost, or build it into a walkway, an $8.5 million never-been-tried endeavour.
The history: council last month balked at paying $450,000 to join a partnership and move the power line from its current path near the Big Lake Environment Support Society viewing platform. The new alignment would see the power line run along Ray Gibbon Drive. Power line owner AltaLink had pledged $450,000 for the move, while Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation gave the city $300,000.
The decision: council instead asked the province and AltaLink to foot the bill to bury the line, a $6.3 million cost, or build it into a walkway, an $8.5 million never-been-tried endeavour.
The update: council met with St. Albert MLA Ken Allred on Monday, who advised the province won't contribute any more dollars. Allred even sounded somewhat critical of council's decision.
"It seems the city is sort of reneging here a bit," he said.
AltaLink officials also said the more expensive deal will not fly.
The future: city manager Bill Holtby will follow up with Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to confirm Allred's feedback. Then he'll report back to council.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Power line misses budget
The cost to move a high-voltage power line away from Big Lake will not find its way into the city's 2009-11 budget, or any other spending year for that matter. The line is responsible for numerous bird fatalities due to collisions with overhead wires.
Council on Monday rejected its own environmental advisory committee's (EAC) recommendation to put $450,000 toward relocating the AltaLink transmission line. AltaLink had offered to match (unheard of for environmental reasons), while the province already cut a $300,000 cheque.
The EAC advocated running the line along the east side of Ray Gibbon Drive, one of six options presented to council. The city's own office of environment said that option would not eliminate fatal bird collisions, but would certainly move it from a "high-risk" area and likely reduce fatal strikes.
Out of sight …
Rather than put city dollars toward the move, council instead favoured James Burrows' idea — ask the province and AltaLink to bury the line underground at a cost of $6.3 million. (A move not without environmental consequences).
Burrows argued it would be a "great gift" to the people of St. Albert if the province came through. Moving the line, he said, would boost eco-tourism opportunities at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
Indeed it would be quite a gift if the province came up with the millions needed. That would be 10 to 20 times Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation's original contribution, depending on whether AltaLink agrees to such a partnership. The early response from both organizations … has been short on enthusiasm.
Dream on
Coun. Lorie Garritty said council is "dreaming in Technicolor" if it thinks the province and AltaLink will reach that far into their pockets. He may be right.
However, Mayor Nolan Crouse worried about the implications of using reserves to pay for the move. Replacing the money (something council would be advised, but not obligated to do) would require the equivalent of a 0.75-percentage point tax increase.
Crouse doesn't view the power line as the city's top environmental priority. If the city is to go to government for environmental funding, it should be for issues like improving the water quality of the Sturgeon River, he said. (Dredging the river is a $2-million expense in 2013, according to the 10-year capital plan).
Sports backlash?
Crouse and Coun. Gareth Jones shared worries about the power line's proposed proximity to the Riel Park sports fields. A map of the EAC's preferred alignment shows it running across the southwest corner of the soccer pitches.
Realistically, relocating a power line near the sports fields would not win many friends among soccer parents, the rugby club, cricket, Kinsmen Club, BMX — and on down the list.
Those are potentially louder voices than the EAC and the three residents who spoke in favour of relocation Monday.
Interpretive centre questions
After years of delays, Monday's decision should trigger a powerful conclusion. Either the province will come through and bury the line, or it's possible they'll cancel their $300,000 cheque.
Council on Monday rejected its own environmental advisory committee's (EAC) recommendation to put $450,000 toward relocating the AltaLink transmission line. AltaLink had offered to match (unheard of for environmental reasons), while the province already cut a $300,000 cheque.
The EAC advocated running the line along the east side of Ray Gibbon Drive, one of six options presented to council. The city's own office of environment said that option would not eliminate fatal bird collisions, but would certainly move it from a "high-risk" area and likely reduce fatal strikes.
Out of sight …
Rather than put city dollars toward the move, council instead favoured James Burrows' idea — ask the province and AltaLink to bury the line underground at a cost of $6.3 million. (A move not without environmental consequences).
Burrows argued it would be a "great gift" to the people of St. Albert if the province came through. Moving the line, he said, would boost eco-tourism opportunities at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
Indeed it would be quite a gift if the province came up with the millions needed. That would be 10 to 20 times Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation's original contribution, depending on whether AltaLink agrees to such a partnership. The early response from both organizations … has been short on enthusiasm.
Dream on
Coun. Lorie Garritty said council is "dreaming in Technicolor" if it thinks the province and AltaLink will reach that far into their pockets. He may be right.
However, Mayor Nolan Crouse worried about the implications of using reserves to pay for the move. Replacing the money (something council would be advised, but not obligated to do) would require the equivalent of a 0.75-percentage point tax increase.
Crouse doesn't view the power line as the city's top environmental priority. If the city is to go to government for environmental funding, it should be for issues like improving the water quality of the Sturgeon River, he said. (Dredging the river is a $2-million expense in 2013, according to the 10-year capital plan).
Sports backlash?
Crouse and Coun. Gareth Jones shared worries about the power line's proposed proximity to the Riel Park sports fields. A map of the EAC's preferred alignment shows it running across the southwest corner of the soccer pitches.
Realistically, relocating a power line near the sports fields would not win many friends among soccer parents, the rugby club, cricket, Kinsmen Club, BMX — and on down the list.
Those are potentially louder voices than the EAC and the three residents who spoke in favour of relocation Monday.
Interpretive centre questions
After years of delays, Monday's decision should trigger a powerful conclusion. Either the province will come through and bury the line, or it's possible they'll cancel their $300,000 cheque.
It's not clear when the city will get an answer. But you can bet the issue will come up again when St. Albert, the province, Ducks Unlimited and the Hole family resume talks about creating an interpretive wetland centre situated in Lois Hole park … in view of a bird-killing power line.
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