Coun. Ted Laking wants his colleagues on council to halt the new city hall project and take another look at it – perhaps even cancel it.

Laking put his colleagues on notice at Monday evening’s meeting that he will be bringing forward a motion at next Monday’s meeting to put the brakes on the project.

In his motion, Laking notes the replacement or renovation of city hall was estimated in 2014 at $9.7 million.

The estimated scope and costs of the project have increased significantly in the last seven years and are now sitting at $26.2 million, says the motion.

It notes the money is coming from taxpayers, and the City of Whitehorse has an inherent responsibility to the taxpayers of the city.

“Be it resolved that administration be directed to halt the city hall renovation project and return to council with options to reduce the estimated costs that include but are not limited to:

• Reductions of scope;

• Cancellation;

• Consideration of different locations such as the Operations Building for the relocation of staff; and

• Plans to contain and prevent future cost increases related to the project.”

Under the proposed project, the old, front part of city hall facing Second Avenue, dating back to 1966, would be demolished.

A new two-storey structure would be built that would tie in with the back half of the existing city hall, built in the mid-1980s. The new building would include a transit stop inside, with washrooms.

It’s expected the construction tender will be issued soon.

City hall staff would be temporarily relocated. The weekly city council meeting would have to be held at a different location.

The city hall project is the last of the major projects in the city’s building consolidation plan, under which the new $55-million Operations Building and the new $3.8-million Black Street firehall were built.

The city has received a commitment from the territorial and federal governments to provide approximately $15 million toward the city hall project.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Laking notes the estimated project cost jumped from $9.7 million in 2014 to $18.9 million in 2019.

It rose again to $20.8 million in 2020, then increased to $24.6 million in March 2021.

Laking notes in the release that council was informed on Dec. 6 that the estimate had increased yet again, to $26.2 million.

In his press release, the councillor pointed out the project estimate is now $16.5 million over the original estimate,. That represents a 170 per cent increase, “and construction has not even started.”

Laking was asked in an interview with the Star Tuesday if it’s realistic to think his colleagues on council would vote to halt the major project at this late stage.

“I’m hopeful my colleagues will listen to my arguments and agree to take a closer look with me,” he said.

Laking said the motion itself does not tie the hands of the city.

The motion, he said, is about ensuring oversight and scrutiny.

Taxpayers have entrusted city council with their money, he emphasized.