Mayor Dan Curtis delivered the city’s capital budget for 2021 at city council’s meeting Monday.

Curtis said the city is committing $31 million for capital projects, with $9.4 million coming from city reserves and the remainder coming from external sources like the federal gas tax fund.

Curtis highlighted several projects that will go ahead next year, including $16.3 million to begin the work on the new Services Building as part of the city’s building consolidation project.

There’s been $2.9 million budgeted for a new Robert Service Campground building, the mayor pointed out.

“Just like in previous years, city council is introducing a budget that is fiscally responsible and one that takes important steps to support the top priorities of all Whitehorse residents,” the mayor said.

“Capital projects are always considered for their impact on operating and maintenance costs. Projects that provide efficiencies and reduce operations and maintenance costs rank high on our priority lists.”

The required bylaw for the 2021 capital budget received first reading on Monday. Second and third readings are scheduled for Dec. 7, following a public input session on the budget scheduled for Nov. 23.

The building consolidation project includes the construction of the new Operations Building off Range Road, the new fire hall downtown and the demolition of Fire Hall #1 (beside city hall) scheduled to begin next year.

The Services Building will be built on the site of the fire hall, and will be joined to city hall, which will undergo a substantial retrofit as part of the overall project.

The mayor also pointed out several other budget commitments, from $3.5 million to continue the asphalt overlay program to $450,000 to expand the Grey Mountain Cemetery and $115,000 for redesign of the city’s website.

There’s $500,000 to clean up contaminated soil on city property along Sixth Avenue that has been identified in the Downtown South Master Plan for a mix of future residential and commercial development.

“The sale of City land on Sixth Avenue could cover the cost of remediation, and we hope it will lead to more housing opportunities for residents and people looking to settle in Whitehorse,” Curtis said in his budget address.

The itemized budget presented by the mayor contains scores of items, such as $100,000 for a new one-ton truck, $576,300 to renew software licences, $350,000 for a new playground in the Whistle Bend subdivision and $65,000 for the replacement of existing playground equipment in the city.

There’s $250,000 to carry out an election pilot project for the 2021 election year, and $350,000 for a new mobile street sweeper.

The city has set aside $25,000 to paint permanent crosswalks at the intersection of Main and Front streets to celebrate inclusion.

City transit will be receiving a new transit driver protection system at a cost of $150,000.

All in all, there are 69 different line items under the $31-million pot of funding.

Of the $31 million, $21.4 million is coming from external sources like the federal government that the city is anticipating to receive approval for.

There’s an additional $21.4 million identified in external funding for capital works in 2021, though the money is still subject to approval.

Curtis highlighted a number of projects that will go ahead if additional external funding from the federal and territorial governments is approved.

There’s been $350,000 identified for the waste heat recovery system at the Canada Games Centre, $1.2 million for the replacement of transit buses and $75,000 for the installation of a biomass heating system at the transit building on Tlingit Street.

The $21.4 million in external funding yet to be approved includes $430,500 for a new ice resurfacer and $650,000 improvements to the west shore area of Schwatka Lake.

The mayor thanked city staff for what he described as a huge effort preparing the 2021 capital budget.

Having it in place by the end of the year will give local businesses and contractors an opportunity to plan for the city’s upcoming capital projects, Curtis said.

He invited the business community and residents to review the budget and provide feedback to the city.

“This proposed budget advances key projects that continue to make the city of Whitehorse a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Curtis said.

“It makes significant investments in our city’s aging infrastructure as well as ensuring that we maintain a healthy, stable environment.”