City cyclists will be getting a skills facility sooner rather than later. In a motion approved 9-4, city council agreed Tuesday afternoon to move the project forward from 2028 to “no later than 2023.”
This is a project that’s “been on the books for the better part of 20 years,” noted Coun. Mike Salisbury, a longtime champion of creating such a facility and who put forward the motion during budget deliberations Tuesday.
“I think it’s important we aim to get this completed,” he said.
The bike skills facility is set to go in Eastview Community Park.
Deputy CAO Colleen Clack-Bush confirmed design work could be launched in 2021, but worried 2022 could be “too aggressive” of a timeline for completion.
“We will do our very best,” she said, noting Eastview Community Park is also slated for splash pad design work in 2021 and installation in 2022. She expressed concern about both staff time allocations and park access with these two projects ongoing.
“We want to make sure we construct this bicycle skills facility correctly.”
This comment prompted Salisbsury to revise his motion from stating the facility needs to be completed by 2022 to “no later than 2023.”
“If we aim high, we run the risk of success,” he said.
The project is funded 90 per cent by development charges and 10 per cent through property taxes.
As a result of council’s discussion, $100,000 was moved up for design and planning in 2021, with $316,000 in 2022 for construction.
