Bearspaw review cost reaches $2.3 million, with most paid to panel chair

Newly released City of Calgary records show that the independent review of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main cost approximately $2.3 million, with the largest share paid to panel chair Siegfried Kiefer. The documents were disclosed October 28 after council approved a motion seeking more detailed information. According to LiveWire Calgary's analysis, Kiefer received about $1.752 million for hourly panel work, plus approximately $36,000 for advisory work. Five other panel members each received fixed fees of $79,600, with additional advisory payments in some cases.

The review examined the failures and broader governance of Calgary's critical water utility, and the City says its scope grew during nine months of technical and engineering work. Councillor Jennifer Wyness questioned the compensation structure and oversight arrangements. Mayor Jeromy Farkas defended the need for specialist expertise while pointing to payment caps for the newer Water Utility Oversight Board. Neither the total bill nor the difference between payment methods establishes that the panel's work was unnecessary or that its findings were unsound; those are separate matters requiring examination of contracts and deliverables.

The disclosure arrives as council prepares to consider large utility-rate increases and residents face another November water shutdown. It also raises procurement questions: who authorized the hourly arrangement, what limits or approvals applied as the review expanded, and how did council monitor costs? The original contract terms, subsequent invoices and resulting recommendations will help determine whether the compensation arrangements provided appropriate oversight and value. The review spending is separate from Calgary's much larger water infrastructure capital program.

Sources: newsroom.calgary.ca, livewirecalgary.com