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This article was published 6/1/2015 (2083 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City officials said there will be no quick progress on a Brian Bowman campaign promise to establish a downtown off-leash dog park.

Brad Sacher, director of public works, said Monday his department remains committed to developing a city-wide policy and master plan for dog parks, but the necessary funding has not yet been approved.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Backers say a downtown off-leash dog park would attract more residents and visitors to the core.

Sacher told members of the downtown development committee if council approves funding for the master plan, it likely wouldn't be completed for another year or longer.

Sacher said he envisions a downtown dog park would be part of the city-wide master plan for dog parks and likely be given a high priority.

"I recognize the importance of locating a dog park in the downtown, but obviously it's a very complex issue," Sacher said.

The public works department had commissioned a study on off-leash dog parks, but the final document, released last year, was harshly criticized by several dog-owner groups as lacking details with no commitments for the city. The department agreed to use the study for the starting point in the development of a master plan if funding is approved in the 2015 budget.

Committee chairman Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) reminded Sacher and the committee a downtown dog park was one of Bowman's key election promises, part of Bowman's strategy to make downtown a more inviting destination and to grow the area's population.

Sacher said no site has been singled out for a downtown dog park, adding he expects a great deal of community consultation will take place before any preferred site is determined.

Riverbank plan mulled

A proposal for a major riverbank-redevelopment project for St. Boniface has been referred to the 2015 budget process for consideration.

The downtown development committee made no recommendation on the merits of the estimated $4-million project, which would see a pedestrian promenade constructed along the St. Boniface side of the Red River facing The Forks, from the Provencher Bridge to the Norwood Bridge.

Committee chairman Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said he sees merit in the project, adding council set aside $200,000 in 2014 for riverbank-stabilization work that will be part of the promenade construction.

The project has been endorsed by ward Coun. Matt Allard and several community groups, including the Provencher Business Improvement Zone, the Grey Nuns and the Winnipeg Foundation.

The foundation has committed $1 million for the construction of a treetop lookout along the route. The Winnipeg Arts Council has agreed to commission a $200,000 sculpture for along the route.

Committee members said the provincial and federal governments should be approached for funding.

Upgrades more costly

ANOTHER civic project is facing a major cost overrun.

The latest estimates for upgrades to the South End Water Pollution Control Centre have pushed the cost of the project to $335.6 million from $272.75 million -- a 23 per cent increase.

The new numbers are contained in a report to Thursday's meeting of the finance committee.

The plant upgrades are needed to comply with more stringent provincial environmental regulations.

The administrative report states the latest cost estimates are the result of additional plant upgrades ($36.85 million) made necessary by regulatory changes and more accurate costs (an additional $26 million) as a result of more detailed design work.

The report cautions the final cost for the project could be higher, as the designs for the upgrades are only 30 per cent complete.

The city had planned to spend $38.8 million this year for construction and professional services at the south-end plant. The report does not state how the latest cost increases will be financed but notes the new developments are being forwarded to the 2015 budget process.

Ottawa is committed to providing $42 million to the project, and the provincial government is providing $17 million.

Savings details sought

COUNCILLORS on a civic committee want details on how administrators are taking funds from approved capital projects to offset a potential budget deficit.

Members of the downtown development committee asked for a list of the scuttled projects and the dollar amounts, after a riverbank-stabilization project was temporarily scuttled when they were told the money was no longer there.

Committee chairman Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said he believes the administration has found $20 million worth of savings from capital projects council has approved.

"We want to see that list," Mayes said.

The issue arose when committee members learned in late November $1.6 million set aside for riverbank-stabilization work in Guay Park in 2015 was no longer there. City staff said the money was taken to balance the 2014 operating budget.

However, several days later, finance officials explained the Guay Park funds were frozen and targeted for the 2015 budget, in compliance with a council policy that capital funds allocated but not spent after two years be diverted for budget purposes.

Mayes and other committee members were upset because riverbank-stabilization projects are approved years in advance and only carried out when the money is available.

Mike Ruta, the city's chief financial officer, told the committee $1 million will be returned for the Guay Park project but that work will now take place in 2016.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said administration should notify ward councillors when funds are diverted from projects.

Mayes said the diverted funds sometimes result from project surpluses, but other times it's money taken from projects not carried out.

Festival grant approved

A request from organizers of the Festival du Voyageur for a $40,000 grant for this year's festival was endorsed Monday by a civic committee.

City hall has given Festival organizers a $40,000 grant for several years, with the money used to offset costs associated with construction of the river trail and related programming.

The downtown development committee endorsed the grant request, but final approval must still come from city council.

-- Aldo Santin