The city plans to spend more than $16 million on capital projects over the next year.

At a special council meeting Monday evening, council unveiled and passed first reading of the 2016 capital spending plan along with provisional capital plans that would take the city into 2019.

The major focus for the years to come is on the $56-million building consolidation plan.

It would see the city move its major operations to one building that would be constructed in an area off Range Road and Two Mile Hill.

Daily services residents access – such as building permits and the like – would be moved to another smaller building downtown next to city hall.

The city would spend $5 million in 2016, with the bulk of the spending set for 2017 at $49.7 million and the final $1.5 million to be spent in 2018.

The project was also the major focus in the 2015 budget.

However, as Mayor Dan Curtis explained to reporters last night, while there was some planning done this year, the city is still working toward getting a lease for Yukon government land.

“We have been working really hard towards this goal,” he said.

After a recent meeting with Highways and Public Works Minister Scott Kent, the mayor added, he’s confident a lease arrangement will be reached soon.

As Curtis said during his budget speech, the building consolidation continues to be the top priority for the city.

“Over the past year, the city has taken a serious look at what the critical needs are of this project in order to move forward with the most cost-effective plan as possible.

“By moving and consolidating our services and operations, this project will reduce heavy equipment in the downtown core, and free up prime real estate for development in our downtown and industrial areas, while still ensuring easy access to city services.

“On top of that, it will improve energy efficiency, improve service delivery and increase operational efficiencies.”

Funding for the project will come from the federal gasoline tax revenue, city reserves and through financing.

In 2016, $1.6 million would come from the gas tax, with $3.4 million coming from capital reserves.

Curtis went on to note the positive benefits for local businesses, tradespeople, contractors and suppliers.

“We will maximize local benefits while making sure the project is as cost-effective as possible,” he said. “We are exploring partnerships to create even more opportunities and benefits.”

He emphasized that no tax increases will be required to fund the project.

“This project provides the best solution for moving the city to where we want to be; a more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable place with a vision for a thriving future,” he said, before turning his attention to waste management.

The city is not expected to reach its goal of 50 per cent waste diversion this year.

However, the mayor stressed the city will continue its efforts on that front, with $253,000 that would be dedicated in 2016 to further implement the city’s Solid Waste Action Plan.

“The city is committed to waste reduction, and recycling is an essential part of our waste management system and our waste diversion efforts,” Curtis said.

“All waste costs money, whether it is recycled, composted or buried in the landfill.

“The city delivers waste disposal, composting and recycling services on a cost recovery basis. These services are funded through tipping fees and utility fees, not tax dollars.

“We all create waste. It is our council’s belief that we all need to pay our share.”

Residents can continue to take their recycling to the landfill, the two recycling processors downtown or subscribe to the private curbside collection program offered through Yukon Blue Bin.

The city, though, has yet to follow through on plans for a city-wide curbside collection program similar to its compost and garbage collection.

As Curtis told reporters last night, the request for proposals on the curbside collection has not gone out yet. The new council elected in October is still reviewing all the information available while the city also works with the Yukon government on waste management issues.

“It goes so much further (than curbside collection),” Curtis said.

He pointed to the efforts and progress that have been made through other initiatives to divert waste from the landfill.

Among them, the city has put a ban on cardboard waste and expanded its compost collection program to some multifamily residences and businesses.

The mayor also went on to point out that “if and when” the curbside collection program for recyclables comes to fruition, it would operate on a user-pay system similar to compost and garbage collection.

He acknowledged though there could be some capital costs up front for things like blue carts or bins that would be put to the curb under the program.

Among the other initiatives highlighted by Curtis were $542,000 in spending over four years for the fire department to replace an aging pumper along with other equipment and upgrades needed.

“The fire department provides essential fire protection and emergency response services for our community,” the mayor said.

He then went on to note the planned $1.7 million investment over two years in improvements to the water and wastewater systems as well as odour mitigation for the Livingstone Trail Lagoon.

Parks and trails projects around the city will see $1 million next year with plans to replace playground equipment, deal with erosion control, irrigation in Whistle Bend and to implement the city’s trail plan.

A further $125,000 will be dedicated to planning for regional parks in the city.

“This plan will begin with the development of Chadburn Lake Park, which is over 18 times the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park,” Curtis pointed out.

“Planning will ensure that the park is managed responsibly for the benefit of all Whitehorse residents today and in the future.”

Work would also continue over the next four years on permanent crosswalk markings, bike route signs, pararamps and sidewalk repairs, along with rural road upgrades.

New bus shelters are also planned at Second Avenue and Steele Street as well as at Second Avenue and Keish Street, with $16,553 outlined to be spent each year on transit shelter and benches.

Finally, Curtis stressed the city’s commitment to its neighbourhoods, with $110,000 outlined in 2016 for an area plan for downtown and Marwell and refurbishing of neighbourhood signs; $80,000 to be spent on drainage at the Black Street stairs and $40,000 on implementing the plan for the Range Point neighbourhood.

The city typically presents its budget as part of its regular meeting schedule.

Curtis told reporters the special meeting was held to ensure the public, local businesses and contractors were presented with the information as soon as possible to assist with their planning for the next year.

A public input session on the capital plan will be held at council’s Dec. 14 meeting, with second and third readings coming forward Jan. 11.

“This will give local businesses and contractors as much advance notice as possible, so they can anticipate and plan for the city’s upcoming capital projects,” Curtis said during his speech.

“We are doing this to maximize economic opportunities for our local business community.”

The budget documents also include an appendix list of projects it plans to go ahead with should funding from other sources be approved.

If all the funding came through, it would add another $14.9 million to the city’s 2016 budget and would range from $15,000 for docks at Schwatka and Chadburn lakes to $5 million for planning the next phase of the Whistle Bend subdivision.

In his speech, Curtis emphasized the city opted to include the list so that projects are ready to go as soon as funding is approved.

“We value and appreciate the funding that the city receives from the federal and territorial governments,” he said.

As the 2016 capital budget makes its way through the bylaw process, work is also well underway on the operating budget for next year.

Curtis acknowledged the operating budget – which includes any changes to property tax rates and user fees – can be more work for council than the capital plan.

As he noted, the operating budget means trying to balance the expectations of residents with the reality of costs to provide the services.

It’s anticipated the operating budget will come forward early in the new year.

Absent from last night’s meeting were councillors Jocelyn Curteanu, Samson Hartland and Betty Irwin.

Curtis explained that while Curteanu is out of town on business, Hartland and Irwin had prior commitments that could not be avoided, and that they had sent along their regrets.