The city’s proposed $16-million 2016 capital budget may be adopted as is this evening.

The city has heard calls for work in the downtown area and financial assistance for the paving of a Mount McIntyre ski trail.

Despite the requests, city staff are recommending that council move forward with second and third readings of the proposed budget without making any changes.

Valerie Braga, the city’s manager of financial services, brought forward the recommendation at last Monday’s council meeting as part of a public input report on the budget.

A number of the usual methods for preliminary public input into the budget, such as public meetings and online tools, were limited due to last October’s municipal election.

However, Braga noted, efforts were made to ensure the proposed budget was available online and in paper form at city facilities, with an email address available to those wanting to comment along with the budget public input session hosted at council’s Dec. 14 meeting.

Through those efforts, the city heard back from two parties, with the Downtown Residents Association appearing first before council on Dec. 7.

The group brought forward resolutions it had passed, calling on the city to include funding to connect the escarpment with the waterfront; make the reconstruction of Cook, Wheeler, Alexander and Strickland streets in the Old Town section of the neighbourhood a priority and rebuild Sixth Avenue this year.

In response, Braga said the redevelopment of the downtown is a priority, with projects in the capital plan that would see the reconstruction of Wheeler and Alexander streets.

“The proposed budget identifies funding for the design of both projects,” Braga pointed out.

“Pending successful local improvement charge (LIC) votes, the reconstruction budgets will be submitted for future budget approval. Further, included as part of Appendix B of the capital budget, subject to the receipt of federal funding are projects such as Downtown Reconstruction – Jarvis Street east, Downtown Reconstruction – Sixth Avenue, and Downtown South Reconstruction.”

While Sixth Avenue was set to be rebuilt this year, implementation of the Building Canada Fund, which could fund the project, has been delayed due to the Oct. 19 federal election, which could in turn delay the project.

“The Downtown South Reconstruction project contains a portion of the escarpment trail from Hanson Street to Robert Service Way, and while the city does have a plan to complete the remainder of the loop along the base of the escarpment connecting to the Millennium Trail and the Riverfront trail, budget for the last portion is anticipated to come forward in a future budget year once a funding source has been identified,” Braga stated.

Finally, Braga responded to Cross Country Yukon’s request to contribute $75,000 to its plans to pave the five-kilometre ski trail.

She noted the project had already come to the city as a potential initiative to put forward in its application for Canada 150 funding, which is aimed at celebrating the nation’s 150th birthday in 2017.

“The city chose to submit three other projects for this funding,” Braga said.

“While there are positive aspects to this project, the city had to prioritize its funding support and was not able to include the Mt. Mac paved trail within the budget envelope at this time.

“Further, this project would require an annual operating budget contribution to maintain the paved trail and resolution of land tenure and liability issues.”

With that, Braga delivered the recommendation that council move ahead with second and third readings of the bylaw.

Council will vote on it this evening.

Coun. Rob Fendrick was absent from last Monday’s meeting.