Though the Bonney Lake budget does not allow a lot of wiggle room for new projects, there are still a lot of things to look forward to this year.

“We’re just hunkering down a bit,” City Administrator Don Morrison said. “It’s not like the old days.”

Not the old days indeed, but a quick check with Morrison, Public Works Director Dan Grigsby and Community Development Director John Vodopich shows a full schedule for the year ahead, including the possibility of the city growing by leaps and bounds.

“I think the biggest (event) will be the decision on the CUGA (County Urban Growth Area) annexation proposal,” Morrison said of the vote that could add 1,860 acres and 7,000 people to Bonney Lake.

The area that might be annexed is south of the city limits.

Originally planned as a February vote, the city is still working with Pierce County to set the date, though Morrison said the last special election date available is in April.

Two major new buildings are also expected to open their doors this spring in Bonney Lake.

City staffers are looking forward to the opening of the Interim Justice Center, of which the city officially took control in the fall. The building, on Main Street in the downtown core, is a 26,000-square-foot mixed use facility that is presently designated to house the city’s court, executive department offices and potentially members of the planning and community development departments.

The city also expects the new MultiCare Good Samaritan medical building, being built in the former Washington State University Demonstration Forest, to open this year. Good Samaritan Hospital will serve as the anchor tenant of the 58,000-square foot facility, which will also include primary care, pediatrics, dermatology and imaging.

Vodopich said the Community Development Department will also continue to work on the Shoreline Management Plan, prepare for a Comprehensive Plan update and continue to work to encourage retail development in the city.

At Public Works, the 2011 work plan is already prepared and crews are ready to begin or finish their work.

According to Grigsby, one of the major projects ahead for public works this year is the replacement of a sewer line along Angeline Road. The pipe, which was installed 10 years ago, is susceptible to cracks and breaks and Grigsby said the city has spent more than $100,000 on repairs in recent years and will simply replace it this year using money from the Public Works Trust Fund loan.

Grigsby said his department is also preparing to build a water booster pump station that will increase the water pressure on supply lines coming from Tacoma Water, to ensure capacity.

Design work is under way on several other projects, including the Eastown lift station and sewer lines and improvements to the intersection at state Route 410 and 214th Avenue, which is no longer big enough to handle the capacity it sees on a daily basis.

In addition, design work on a new flood wall for the Sumner wastewater treatment plant is being completed and the wall is expected to be installed this year. Grigsby said he also expects design work for the treatment plant expansion to get started with plans to finish the expansion by 2014.

Leaky water pipes in the Lake Debra Jane neighborhood are also scheduled to be replaced.

Grigsby also said he expects crews to complete sidewalks on the north side of state Route 410 between South Prairie Road and 208th Street. Once completed, there will be sidewalks stretching along 410 from Old Buckley Highway to 214th, with only a short gap where the highway passes over Angeline Road.

Aside form construction projects, Morrison said the city expects a grant from the county (it has already been approved) to help the city acquire 96 acres of land along Fennel Creek in the area of open space just to the west of the Kelley Farm, north of Target.

Morrison also said the city will be adding a cultural and heritage element to the Comprehensive Plan for the first time.

Other potential first-time events for the city in 2011 are a fireworks display as part of Bonney Lake Days and a new holiday parade to coincide with the city’s 2011 tree lighting in December.