THUNDER BAY – The next steps in redeveloping Thunder Bay’s waterfront would receive more attention and resources under a proposal coming to city council on Monday.
A recommendation from city administration would revive the city’s waterfront development committee and provide staff support estimated at $150,000 a year.
The committee would be tasked with advising city council on phase two development of the waterfront, extending south from Prince Arthur’s Landing to the Pool 6 docking facility.
Plans that could reshape the area in the coming years include the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s move to the waterfront, improvements to Pool 6 the city hopes will support a cruise ship boom, a north core streetscape revamp that could bring a level crossing to the waterfront at Red River Road, and upgrades to the Marina Park festival area.
The committee would also advise on a long-term plan for a waterfront trail running from Fisherman’s Park in the north to Mission Marsh in the south, with work beginning on several sections this year.
Coun. Brian McKinnon, who has called for the revival of the committee, said it will help ensure continued momentum on those plans, and serve as a badly-needed public access point.
“We want to make sure we don’t miss any opportunities due to lack of communication or [people asking], who do I go to?” he said. “I’ve had a developer come to me and say, what do I to get noticed that I might be interested in developing something down in the waterfront?”
“Even the trail system, [a group] said they would be interested in sponsoring a certain section of the trail system, but they don’t know how to do that, what the process would be, who should they talk to?”
The body would also work to identify and pursue grants and other funding opportunities, he said.
A previous iteration of the committee was struck in 2006 and helped drive the first phase of development at Prince Arthur's Landing. It was dissolved in 2018.
The committee will require significant support, city administration stated in a report to council, estimating an annual budget of $150,000 in 2022, and $40,000 to begin operations in the last quarter of this year.
The funds would support a renewed waterfront development office, likely consisting of a supervisor and supporting staff or contracted support services, said director of engineering and operations Kayla Dixon.
“There will be a lot of new or expanded services that will come with the development of the waterfront trail, Pool 6 lands and the cruise ship dock, including for example installation and maintenance of new infrastructure, coordination of cruise ship landings and dock support, understanding and complying with a new regime of regulatory requirements," she said. "These are not things that can be managed off the corner of someone’s desk."
Administration would be tasked with reporting back during the 2022 budget process in January with potential strategies to offset the new spending.
McKinnon said he’ll be looking for more detail on the estimated costs, but there’s no doubt the work is important.
“I anticipate it’s going to create some really exciting developments down there, because there are lots of areas that need filling in – I’ve heard that from the public."
Draft terms of reference developed by city staff would see the committee maintain two-year work plans with timelines and key priorities, and host an annual roundtable of stakeholders.
Membership would include two city councillors and five members of the public appointed by council.
McKinnon believes the Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) should be represented, while Port Arthur Rotary has formally requested a seat. The organization has created a Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team aimed at fundraising and advocating for the vision of a unified trail, it said.
Councillors will vote on the committee’s terms of reference and suggested budget on Monday.
