The city will go back to basics with its 2010 capital budget.

The document, proposing to spend nearly $15.5 million on major projects next year, was unveiled and received first reading at last night's council meeting. The budget also outlines projected capital spending into 2013.

"There's a little bit of everything,” Buckway told reporters following last night's meeting.

She cited plans over the long term that would see improvements to the water system, the widening of the Robert Campbell Bridge in and out of Riverdale and a traffic study of Riverdale, among other plans.

"It's all part of the big picture,” she said.

Spending in the three years following 2010 is expected to fall to just over $10 million in 2011, then rise to $10.2 million in 2012 and fall again in 2013 to $9.4 million.

The plans rest on five pillars – water, transportation, sustainable growth, public safety and active living – Buckway said. She then launched into a 15-minute, 14-page speech outlining the plans.

"The City of Whitehorse owns and operates a municipal water system and has been approached several times and asked to provide assurances that we will continue to provide this service,” the mayor said.

"We stood committed then, and let me reaffirm that commitment here today by stating that the first pillar of this budget is not only to maintain our water service, but to improve it.”

Over the next four years, she said, the city plans to spend $17 million in water system upgrades, including the replacement of the Selkirk pumphouse at $7.4 million.

A further $2.6 million will be spent on developing wells in the Selkirk aquifer, with $700,000 expected to be spent next year, just over $1 million in 2011 and finally $900,000 in 2012.

"This investment will allow increased pumping capacity from groundwater sources into our existing distribution system,” Buckway said.

"The City of Whitehorse will continue to meet and exceed national drinking water standards while avoiding the expense that systems based on surface water sources, such as Schwatka Lake, now face.”

The city has moved to using the ground water supply of water in recent years from its previous use of the lake.

Another $3.5 million is proposed to double the capacity of the Porter Creek reservoir, with $200,000 to be spent in 2010 and another $3.3 million in 2013.

"This investment will ensure that water supply demands in existing areas will be met, without compromising service to the existing community,” Buckway said.

"That said, as responsible citizens, we cannot continue to rely on new resources to support our collective lifestyles. We must all make better use of the resources we have.”

To that end, in 2011, the city plans to begin spending $3.3 million over three years at $1.1 million each year for a residential water metering program. That goal was first announced several years ago.

"This program will provide each home with a water meter and require each residence to pay for the amount of water they actually use,” Buckway said, noting the program is already in place for all commercial properties in the city.

"This new way of doing business will not only promote conservation of our most precious resource, it should also result in lower operating costs as less energy will be required to pump and treat water and less sewage will be produced.”

Following the meeting, the mayor told reporters the city will take a phased-in approach to the metering, but she expects that as the date for it draws closer, there will be more residents speaking out on it.

On the transportation front, the city plans to spend $700,000 next year on asphalt work to city roads. That will be followed by a further $900,000 in 2011, $1 million in 2012 and another $1 million in 2013.

For next year, the city will focus on resurfacing Main Street from First to Second Avenue, the intersection at Second and Fourth Avenues, Two Mile Hill from Range Road to the Alaska Highway and Range Road south from Two Mile Hill to the new Public Safety Building being erected at the top of the hill.

Rural roads could also see resurfacing in the coming years. The city is proposing to spend $900,000 over the next three years at $300,000 each year. In 2010,

it's proposed that sections of the Schwatka and Fish Lake Roads be resurfaced along with intersections in Mary Lake.

"A complement to these programs is the $400,000 that is being committed for design work in the Black Street and Sixth Avenue area for new roads, water, sewer and building services,” Buckway said.

"This is in addition to the $220,000 going towards the replacement of traffic lights at Ogilvie Street and Fourth Avenue that will better assist in the movement of traffic.”

Over the next four years, the city also plans to purchase new equipment.

That will include a vactor (vacuum truck) budgeted at $910,000, spending $450,000 in 2011and $460,000 in 2013; a grader, budgeted at $580,000, at $285,000 in 2011 and $295,000 in 2013; a street flusher truck, budgeted at $250,000 in 2010 at $200,000 in 2012; dump trucks budgeted at $290,000 in 2013; and a mobile sweeper budgeted at $260,000 next year.

"Hand-in-hand with vehicular traffic goes parking, and we have heard for some time that parking continues to be an issue for our citizens, especially in the downtown area,” Buckway said.

There is $125,000 proposed for a downtown parking strategy next year, she noted. It would look at demand for parking downtown, the adequacy of current zoning bylaw requirements and the feasibility of a park and ride system.

"There are no easy answers to the balance that must be struck between parking and the promotion of alternative transportation, but through this work we will achieve a clearer picture of how we as a community should move forward,” Buckway said.

The $40,000 transportation study for Riverdale next year would examine the traffic impact in the neighbourhood coming out of new Yukon government projects.

Those include upgrades to Whitehorse General Hospital facilities, more repairs to the Thomson Centre to reopen it to long-term care patients by late 2010, housing projects and the planned replacement of F.H. Collins Secondary School.

That's not the only neighbourhood in the city that could see some big changes.

The redevelopment of Takhini North will continue into 2010.

The city proposes to spend $3.5 million more on the new section of the area, along with another $600,000 to finish up reconstruction work of the existing neighbourhood.

"The Takhini North project is providing new, compact development in the geographical heart of Whitehorse, resulting in low commute times and proximity to downtown and surrounding amenities,” the mayor said.

"That is the present, and to ensure that we continue to prepare for tomorrow, we have allocated over $100,000 in planning initiatives in this budget, which include studies in McLean Lake, the Alaska Highway corridor, industrial areas and the southern area of downtown,” Buckway said.

The city also plans to spend $50,000 on rewriting the zoning bylaw next year, a requirement of the Official Community Plan review currently underway.

On the public safety front, Buckway noted two ways the city handles public safety are through the bylaw department and the fire department.

Next year will see the completion of the new Public Safety Building, at $2.25 million, which will replace the fire hall at the top of Two Mile Hill and house not only the fire department but also the bylaw department and serve as a site for other city emergency operations.

Over the next four years, the city plans to purchase for the fire department a new $600,000 fire truck in 2012, $290,000 on a self-contained breathing apparatus, $135,000 for fire-person turnout gear and $100,000 for traffic signal control devices.

"These new signal controls will keep traffic lights green in emergency situations for our fire crews, meaning they can get to the scene of a fire, accident or other emergencies more quickly,” Buckway said.

Meanwhile, the bylaw department is expected to spend $175,000 next year on renovating the animal pound.

"This renovation will not only assist the city in continuing to provide animal control, it will help us to protect the animals against themselves against the disease that can occur as a result of confinement,” Buckway said.

Finally, the mayor stressed the importance of active living.

"Through various parks, recreation and other programs, the city has continually proven its commitment to providing health and wellness opportunities to its citizens,” Buckway said.

"Whether it is a visit to the Canada Games Centre or enrolling in summer day camps, we have endeavoured to provide an opportunity for everyone.”

While it wasn't outlined in her speech, $144,000 is proposed to be spent next year on the Canada Games Centre, ranging from security cameras to change lockers for the wellness centre to an ice edger.

The Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre could also be upgraded to the tune of $35,000 next year.

Those who enjoy the fresh air that comes with outdoor recreation could also notice some changes with $440,000 proposed to implement the city's trail plan over the next four years.

"Other outdoor recreation improvements include $200,000 in Rotary Park upgrades and $305,000 for playground and parks equipment replacement in various neighbourhoods,” Buckway said, careful as well not to leave out those who use alternative modes of transportation to get to and from work.

”To assist those who are choosing to leave their cars at home, we (are) allocating $1.5 million to widen the sidewalks on the Robert Campbell Bridge from 1.6 metres to 2.4 metres,” she said. "This will provide a safer, more accessible route for both pedestrians and cyclists.”

The bridge widening isn't expected to take place until 2013.

Work will also be done on constructing sidewalks over the next four years to further assist pedestrians.

"To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy new sidewalk infrastructure, the city, in consultation with the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, is also allocating $49,500 to lower curbs to ensure wheelchairs can navigate pedestrian corridors safely,” Buckway said.

As the mayor wrapped up her budget speech, she noted detailed packages are available for the public at city hall and a public input session on the budget will be held at council's Jan. 11 meeting.

Second and third readings will come forward on Jan. 25.

The city's operating budget for 2010 is expected to be unveiled early in the New Year. That is the budget from which property owners will learn the size of their tax increase, and which would outline potential fee hikes for city services.

"In 2010 and beyond, our vision is to promote the balance of fiscal responsibility with the provision of amenities that have brought so much to our capital city in terms of quality of life,” she said. "That's exactly what this budget achieves.”