City council has approved an additional $2.3 million in this year’s capital budget to cover the cost of emergency repairs to the escarpment due to mudslide damage.

The city has already incurred more than $1.6 million in costs.

As well, it’s estimated an additional $750,000 will be needed to cover outstanding invoices and additional work that’s required.

The vote at Monday’s council meeting in support of the additional funding was unanimous.

“The majority of the remaining work is related to débris cleanup of landslides, and completion of the containment berm on Robert Service Way,” says the administrative report to city council.

It says there will be a project brought forward later this year to update the overall escarpment geo-hazard study.

While there is no indication of what percentage of the costs can be recovered from the Yukon and federal governments, intergovernmental discussions around the issue are underway, says the report.

City manager Jeff O’Farrell told council the city is working with the government to review the snow dumping practices at the airport and to assist with design of the airport expansion.

Snow melt from the airport may have contributed to the mudslides, O’Farrell told council.

On April 30, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cubic metres of material were released in a landslide that covered a portion of Robert Service Way and the Millennium Trail near the Robert Service Campground.

The slide forced the closure of the Robert Service Way for several weeks.

The administrative report notes subsequent landslides of varying magnitude over the following six weeks were also observed.

Some of the subsequent slides were minor in nature but others were significant and impacted nearby infrastructure, including a small downtown park.