Coquitlam residents will soon see upgrades at three parks, 20 intersections and 25 bus stops - and they won't be on the hook for any of it.
This week, council approved the $410,000 bill for five capital projects to be funded by federal gas taxes.
In July, the Union of BC Municipalities inked a deal with the federal government that would allow it to share 5% of federal gas tax revenues with other Lower Mainland cities (the other 95% goes to TransLink for regional transportation).
As a result of the Community Works Fund Agreement, Coquitlam will get $4 million over the next decade.
Council on Monday approved the most pressing infrastructure items as recommended by city managers, an urgent one being a $100,000 retrofit of the Blue Mountain spray park - a cost that took many councillors by surprise given it will be a temporary fix.
The decision to spend the cash came after the provincial health ministry recently ordered the city to update the asphalt surface by next year or close the spray deck because of ongoing cracking from tree roots.
Council's move goes against the city's Aquatic Infrastructure and Services Strategy, adopted in January 2013, that calls for a new spray deck to be built at the site of the Blue Mountain wading pool (that strategy is to be revised this fall by a consultant, at a cost of $40,000, with a report due in January).
Meanwhile, council allowed another $100,000 in federal gas tax funds to be spent on the 30-year-old playground at Alouette Park in Riverview Heights as half of its amenities have been taken out because of age.
As well, $90,000 will be put toward LED street signs at 20 intersections while $50,000 of the gas tax will be spent to make 25 more bus stops or intersections wheelchair-accessible. Currently, more than half of the city's 537 bus stops are universal.
