It’s hard put a price on the feeling of enjoying free public spaces, but Bradford is facing a cost hike to build such a space.
Council approved an additional $370,000 for the town’s Celebration Square project and awarded the tender to Hawkins Contracting during the regular council meeting on June 18.
Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott said he was “a bit conflicted” and feeling “sticker shock,” but wanted to support having the project done well.
Similarly, Mayor James Leduc said he struggled with the request, but was ultimately in support.
“It’s a tough one,” he said. “Since COVID(-19), we’ve seen construction prices increase dramatically.”
During the 2024 budget deliberations in January, council approved $2.9 million for the project that aims to take the roughly 6,000-square-metre open lawn directly to the west of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library and transform it into a permanent public square and event space including:
- covering the lawn with brushed concrete
- an open central area
- an event stage
- scored concrete walkways
- year-round seating
- additional tree plantings and gardens
However, a report from community services director Terry Foran explained an addition $305,000 would be needed, as the lowest bid from Hawkins came in at almost $2.99 million after sales tax, and in addition to design, consulting and other fees, the cost is expected to be nearly $3.21 million.
On top of that, Foran requested another $65,000 in additional funding, including $30,000 to add wooden cladding on top of concrete seating walls and $35,000 to add four permanently installed tables with chairs and umbrellas, all composed of durable metal and synthetic materials.
Some councillors asked about the possibility of scaling back the project to stay within the previously approved budget, and Foran explained staff could go back to revise the design, but that would lead to delays and could even require a new tender process.
“I’m very conservative when it comes to spending your dollars,” he said.
As part of that effort, Foran said the detailed design was done “100 per cent in-house” rather than being outsourced, which was estimated to save eight to 12 per cent of the total project cost, which would work out to between about $260,000 and 390,000.
Ward 6 Coun. Nickolas Harper emphasized the importance of the town investing in “great free spaces” residents can enjoy at a time when people are “already struggling” financially, and worried delays could cause more cost increases.
Ward 3 Coun. Ben Verkaik noted the timing was “last minute,” as the town had already moved Music in the Park and other summer events which regularly take place on the lawn, in anticipation of construction beginning on July 1.
“We’ve kind of got a gun to our head,” he said.
Altogether the new total project cost is expected to be $3.27 million, and in order to pay for the $370,000 difference, Foran requested $333,000 from municipal development charges reserves and $37,000 from the capital expenditures reserves.
Finance director and treasurer Ian Goodfellow explained the bulk of funds is coming from development charge reserves and therefore would have no impact on the tax levy. However, Verkaik reminded council that development charges are not “magic money,” and dipping into those funds for the square could take funds away from potential future projects.
The mayor suggest councillors could help offset the costs by fundraising to come up with $300,000.
