Calgary submits $900M flood-fix wish list to province

The city has submitted an extensive $900-million list of flood mitigation projects to the province.

It's a long list from $12 million to move the police arrest processing unit out of downtown to an estimated $200 million for a flood diversion tunnel linking the Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River.

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Mayor Naheed Nenshi said some projects are obviously longer term but a council committee asked city administration to come up with a the priorities list of things that could be done immediately while they wait for the province's response.

"Next week we'll have a list of everything that must be done this year," said Nenshi.

"After that we'll have a prioritized list of all the other work that will come next year and the years after that."

Nenshi said the city could pay to get those projects going — but it can't do it all alone.

"If we need to front the money while we're negotiating with the province, I've asked for a list of the things that are urgent enough that we should front the money for," he said.  

"I don't want to front the money for everything. I think that runs the risk of the city really being in a dangerous situation with our cash, with our reserves, but if there's stuff we need to front the money for, we'll front the money for it."

One thing that will start immediately is design work on a $25-million berm and groundwater control project to protect the Calgary Zoo.

Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said that sends an important message to potential donors wary of giving money for the zoo's expansion plans.

"The donor community has to know that $1.2 million to do detailed design is a firm commitment that that detailed design is going to be taken to completion."

It's not known when the province will respond to the city's list.