City Council has taken a step towards increasing funding for the city’s Public Works to address maintenance issues for its aging fleet for winter maintenance.
Council at last night’s meeting approved a motion put forward by rookie councillors Corey Gardi and Lisa Vezeau-Allen that directs staff to increase the Public Works Vehicle Reserve by 250-thousand dollars in the 2020 preliminary budget with a view to provide further increases of 250-thousand dollars in both the 2021 and 2022 preliminary budgets pending a fleet service program review planned for 2020.
That total amount is equal to what Public Works had asked for at budget time but was turned down.
Council will still need to approve the increase at budget time when the budget is finalized.
The motion indicates that 45% of the Public Works fleet is over 9-years old and 23% is beyond its life expectancy.