COLLIN GALLANT
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The Medicine Hat City budget requests for the next three-year planning cycle arrived at City Council on Monday night with several large projects on the agenda and one larger question mark.
Though the proposed Event Centre doesn't appear in the projection created by city staff, a replacement for the aging Medicine Hat Arena — said to be the largest construction project in city history — will probably be factored in sooner than later.
“I’d say it’s down to weeks,” said Ald. Graham Kelly following Monday’s council meeting.
“We had a presentation before council tonight from the consultants where they gave us a report and now we hope to have designs brought in... then we’ll bring it to the public. “Monday’s three-year budget proposal also certified the council’s wish to go ahead with a major expansion at the Family Leisure Centre and Methanex Bowl this year.
That would include twinning the rec-hockey arena, the construction of an indoor walking track and fieldhouse, seating at the swimming pool and the overhaul of the neighbouring football field and the installation of artificial field turf.
The city is planning to spend $36 million for the expansion — but can apply to receive two thirds of that cost from other levels of government, making about $24 million available for an Events Centre.
Monday was also the first day back for members of city council after a weekend of strategic planning meetings in Moose Jaw, where aldermen and Mayor Norm Boucher set the Event Centre as a top priority with ‘milestone dates’ set for this month.
The new spectator hockey rink in Moose Jaw and an adjoining curling facility cost a total of about $52 million, of which the City of Moose Jaw contributed about $24 million. 
The last price tag for a Medicine Hat Event Centre was set at more than $90 million back in 2009.
“I think we can do it for less,” said Boucher, who agreed that a new Event Centre plan is close to being ready for public consumption.
“It’s a matter of finalizing some of the funding, making sure we have everything covered,” said Boucher.
“We’ve asked senior staff to make sure the money is there, and that there is money coming from the energy side to help out.”
The Family Leisure Centre wasn't the only major recreation project on the table. Planners hope to have a new indoor pool under construction in South Ridge in 2014, along with new soccer fields in the south-end community.
“A lot of these things were identified in the Recreation Master Plan,” said Kelly. “I think it will  be exciting for Medicine Hat. As far as South Ridge is concerned, a pool is definitely in the plans. It’s a matter of what kind of partnerships we’re looking at and how to do it.”
Other highlights of the three-year capital budget include the need to replace the concrete slab at the Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre, and redo the roof on the City Hall parkade.
As far as road work goes, the City hopes to finish work on Parkview Drive in 2012 and undertake the rehabilitation of the Maple Avenue Bridge in 2013.
On the operations side, $500,000 could be set aside for road overlays in the next year, a large portion of which is paid for through grants from the provincial and federal governments, along with sidewalk repair.
Funding for snow and ice clearing will be boosted by $245,000.
The budget comes before City Council again on Feb. 21 for approval.
Council will debate the Tax Rate Bylaw in April.
The complete proposal is available to the public on the city’s website www.medicinehat.ca