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Victoria’s CIP highlights water storage, fire equipment, park projects and new public‑works equipment
Summary
Council reviewed the 5‑year capital improvement plan including a planned 2027 water storage facility and a 2030 second water treatment plant, replacement of fire and public works vehicles, and parks proposals such as tennis court reconstruction, an outdoor ice rink and a bike skills park.
Victoria — City staff laid out a multi‑year capital plan that pairs near‑term equipment replacements with longer‑range infrastructure projects tied to growth in the south area and the Downtown West initiative.
Staff described several 2026 capital items and future years in detail. The fire equipment fund includes replacement of a 2015 command vehicle and extremity tools in 2026, with SCBA inventory refreshes and a possible ladder truck in 2030 that would likely be lease‑financed. The public works capital fund proposes buying a roller compactor and replacing a 2011 pickup, adding a Toro Workman vehicle, and purchasing a fertilizer trailer and sprayer; staff said buying equipment and performing fertilizing in‑house could save roughly the annual $35,000 previously paid to contractors and produce a payback in about three years.
Public works and facilities planning dominated council discussion. Staff and public works representatives flagged limited cold storage and shop space across current facilities; staff noted the old public works site is at end of life and the city is pausing any redevelopment of that property until Downtown West public‑space plans are clearer. Mr. Lee, a public works representative, said the new fire station could provide interim storage and the CIP includes a placeholder for a $5 million expansion of the public works shop in a later year.
Parks and trails proposals drew extended comment. Assistant Nelson said the city would cost‑share (50/50) reconstruction of eight tennis courts at Holy Family and proposed $750,000 in 2026 for three new neighborhood parks. New items include $175,000 for an improved outdoor ice rink solution and a 2027 bike skills park; staff emphasized these are planning/master‑planning line items and any project over $20,000 will return for council approval. “For our contract with Holy Family, we have a 50/50 cost share as part of this,” Nelson said.
Staff also summarized a longer water CIP that includes a planned water storage facility in 2027 and design work for a second water treatment plant starting in 2029 with construction in 2030—an item staff estimated at approximately $25 million in future years—and noted possible use of water fund balance to avoid bonding where practical.
The workshop included no formal approvals; council asked staff to refine cost estimates, consider storage and equipment staging for downtown West, and bring back materials for the formal public hearings and budget adoption process.
