The town's 2024 capital budget is calling for a robust $26.75 million capital budget that includes some major projects to poise the town for the future.
It marks the first major investment into the future Horse Creek Sports Park, something under consideration since Rocky View Schools purchased a parcel of land immediately north of Heritage Hills in 2015 to allow for the development of a high school.
The budget calls for a $5.53 million investment in developing a detailed design, costing, phasing, and utility servicing installation for the multi-use park.
The intent is to complete it in phases, with a significant portion of the funding to come from fundraising efforts from local sports groups, provincial grant funding, and reserves.
Early preliminary estimates have it pegged as a $50 million project.
The budget also calls for action on securing access to additional water licences to address growth and to build infrastructure for the Girl Guides of Canada's Camp Jubilee.
The town is awaiting approval from the provincial government for the transfer of a water licence from the Girl Guides of Canada. The agreement requires the town to provide water and wastewater servicing to their 84-acre camp, located on the south banks of the Bow River within town limits.
The budget calls for an expenditure of $550,000 in 2024 to design the servicing and $7.35 million to build it in 2025.
It's also calling for further expenditures totalling $11.88 million over three years to acquire further water licences.
The capital budget includes $200,000 for the first phase of acquiring land for a new water treatment plant.
With the development of Southbow Landing now underway, the town is laying the groundwork for the anxiously awaited completion of stage 3 of the James Walker Trail. Expenditures over three years are estimated to be $17 million.
The budget has a $500,000 placeholder for site preparation for an accessible multi-sport Jumpstart court. Town administration believes it's a high estimate that will be refined once a final site has been chosen and required work determined.
The town has earmarked $900,000 for Glenbow Pathway bridge lifecycling. Four wooden bridges within this pathway system are approaching the end of their lifecycles and need either replacement or repairs.
It also includes $500,000 for Historic Ranche and Glenbow pathway improvements that will be further scrutinized by council before proceeding.
Also requiring a final review from town council is a $1.25 million project to revamp the RancheHouse and create additional workspace. It includes plans to redevelop the second-floor east side of the RancheHouse, develop an expanded emergency command centre, and upgrade the council chambers.
Its inclusion in the budget led to Councillor Morgan Nagel opposing the town's capital project. Even though it's being funded out of reserves, he believes it would make more sense to add it to the budget once council agrees to proceed. He had also suggested leaving those funds in reserve and reducing the tax increase.
A $150,000 affordable housing action plan will be completed that had originally been slated for 2025 but moved forward because of the urgent need.
Among the other projects are a Cochrane app/alerting system and the River Heights pump station and water storage expansion.
Council approved the capital budget by a 6-1 vote.
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