Around city hall

Sewage contract approved

The City of Winnipeg will award a $115-million contract toward the final phase of the North End sewage treatment plant upgrade, without waiting for the federal government to help fund the work.

On Thursday, city council waived a condition that funding agreements be finalized with the provincial and federal governments for the mega-project before awarding the development phase agreement contract.

The third and final nutrient removal facilities phase of the upgrade is expected to cost $1.57 billion, bringing the total cost of the entire upgrade to $3.1 billion.

The city asked the senior governments to provide $500 million each for Phase 3.

The province has publicly promised to do so, while city and federal officials say a decision on the request for another $500 million from Ottawa will be provided soon.

City to offer bus fare refunds for free program users

Winnipeg Transit will provide refunds to people who bought student bus passes prior to a program offering youth rides free of charge.

The provincially funded Free Youth Transit Pass Pilot program will provide no-cost rides to youths between the ages of 11 and 17 and high school students between the ages of 18 and 21. Schools will distribute the passes this month.

Transit will provide refunds to those who already paid for youth fares that were not used.

Transit to buy electric buses

Winnipeg Transit will buy more battery electric buses.

City council has approved a “one-time exception” from its previous decision to buy only diesel buses from 2027 on, which aimed to save money.

Transit will buy up to seven 20-foot-long electric buses for a pilot project to support on-request trips. Each of the smaller electric buses is expected to cost less than a 40-foot diesel bus.

Plan for full bus driver shields expected soon

The city will take the first steps to install full driver shields on buses, replacing partial ones.

City council approved a plan to earmark $2.7 million toward the design, procurement and initial installation of the shields. It also directed city staff to provide an implementation plan for the entire fleet within 90 days, which would require further funding.

A pilot project is expected to add full shields on nine buses first.

Build ready home plans approved

A new program will aim to speed up home construction through “Build Ready” plans.

The program would create preapproved plans that comply with building codes for homes and detached garages.

After the plans are approved, they could be used on multiple sites around the city.

Builders using those plans should receive permits within five working days of a successful application, as opposed to the usual 10.

Outdoor education site approved

The city will allow an outdoor education facility that hosts Indigenous and land-based learning to become a reality.

On Thursday, city council gave final approval to the Louis Riel School Division project at 3280 St. Mary’s Rd.

A one-storey building will offer three classrooms, seven offices, multi-purpose rooms, workstations and common areas. The site would also offer an entry plaza and an outdoor classroom.

Existing buildings would remain and be used as a bus maintenance shop, outdoor material storage sheds and a covered outdoor work area.

Provencher Park selected for new pool, existing one would be removed

A new aquatic centre would be built at Provencher Park, while the existing outdoor Provencher Pool would close, if city council funds the project.

Council approved the plan, pending future budget approvals, on Thursday.

A city report said the existing pool is near the end of its useful life. An early estimate suggests the new pool will cost between $18 million and $21 million.