THUNDER BAY – A divided city council groped for a way forward on a proposed indoor turf facility at a special meeting Thursday, putting everything from a new location and reduced scope to partnerships with the private sector on the table.
Several councillors raised the possibility of locating the facility beside the Canada Games Complex, hoping to find cost savings and build a “recreational hub.”
Others expressed frustration over the possibility of going back to the drawing board after two years of work, and pointed to a municipal election less than 18 months away as a limiting factor.
Councillors' comments Thursday will help inform a report that will offer a suite of options for next steps, said city manager Norm Gale. The report will come before council in the fall, possibly as early as September, he said.
Gale chaired Thursday's special meeting, in which councillors could ask questions and offer comments, but not debate (a stipulation Gale sometimes struggled to hold them to) or take any action.
Council's support for the project has eroded since initially voting 9-4 to go to tender with an approved design in August of 2020.
With a full-sized indoor field that could be divided into four, the Chapples Park complex would accommodate soccer, ultimate frisbee, cricket, football, and other sports, along with a walking track and other amenities.
It remains approved in principle, but in limbo, after council voted 7-5 in March not to award a $37 million tender for construction, with opponents citing the impacts of COVID-19 and rising costs.
The cost to the city over 25 years is estimated at $46 million, including interest payments on a large debenture.
The city has set aside $15 million for the project in a dedicated reserve fund, and city treasurer Linda Evans noted the Renew Thunder Bay fund, which could also be used for the project, stands at around $13.5 million.
Coun. Albert Aiello is one of several who sees a clear need for an indoor turf facility, but grew hesitant over the price tag.
He first supported the project, but then voted against awarding the tender, calling the decision “probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done."
His change of heart came thanks to climbing cost estimates and a clear message from his constituents, he said.
“There’s lots of support for this project in the community, I’m positive about that. But people say, ‘not right now.’ We have businesses in our city that have been closed for pretty much a year… there’s people still not working in our community. You can’t just ignore that.”
A looming request for a $56 million new police headquarters also increased his misgivings, he said.
However, he said he'd still like to see council move forward with a turf project within its remaining term, if the cost to the city could be reduced.
Coun. Aldo Ruberto, who voted to award the tender, said it was clear the price had to come down to gain majority support.
“There are two or three councillors who would change their mind if we got it below $33 million, or $30 million, or $25 million – whatever that number is,” he said.
Ruberto hoped that could be accomplished by trimming the scope of the project, cutting associated items like road resurfacing and active transportation elements.
Several councillors agreed the size of the the field and walking track should be non-negotiable, but expressed flexibility on other elements, including its location, eyeing a site next to the city-run Canada Games Complex.
That could bring savings thanks to existing parking and city services on site, and other potential efficiencies, some councillors suggested.
Coun. Brian McKinnon speculated building conditions were also likely more forgiving – and therefore less costly – than the soft ground at Chapples.
City staff were more tentative.
“Efficiencies could be had, but we’d need to really review the existing facility,” said director of asset management Gerry Broere. “A lot of work would need to be done to investigate that… By looking at the Complex we’re starting from scratch – back to day one.”
The Complex location could allow the inclusion of tennis facilities, as originally envisioned but later dropped in the Chapples design, Foulds said.
He agreed with Coun. Shelby Ch’ng, however, that if plans changed that significantly, a new round of community consultation would be needed.
Any big changes would likely push key decisions uncomfortably close to the next municipal election on October 24, 2022, said Bentz.
“We’re at end of term here – we should be looking for quick fixes, not redesigning the entire project at even greater cost," he said.
The city has so far spent about $920,000 developing the project, said Broere.
The alternative of partnerships with private entities at the CLE or on Golf Links Road should also be considered, Bentz suggested.
“These are potential places where people can play indoor sports,” he said. “No, it’s not the ideal facility, but you know what? If we get hundreds of kids on the field before the end of [council’s] term playing soccer in the winter, I think we’ve accomplished something.”
Coun. Rebecca Johnson, speaking up near the end of the three-hour meeting, said the message from residents was clear – don’t proceed at this time.
“There’s not confidence in our community right now,” she said. “It’s generally the feeling of we don’t want it – that’s what I’m hearing, and it has been for a long time.”
The at-large councillor suggested the issue should be put to a plebiscite if council wanted to push ahead, an idea Coun. Peng You also reiterated his support for.
Johnson questioned the use of council’s time Thursday, given the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“It’s not a priority to me, not at this point,” she said. “I’m sad we’re not spending [hours] trying to figure out how we're going to deal with our economy, our residents. Some of them can’t afford to buy food, some don’t have jobs anymore, some can’t pay their rent. … To me, that’s what we really should be talking about.”
With a jumble of opinions expressed Thursday, Coun. Cody Fraser feared administration would be hard-pressed to find a way forward.
“I’m perplexed how administration will take anything of value from this meeting to put anything of quality together,” he said. “I’m a little bit disillusioned by the whole process.”
“Members of council are all over the place on this issue, and I think moving forward does need some compromise,” allowed city manager Norm Gale.
Still, he reiterated his commitment to return to council in the fall with a report including clear options for next steps.
Councillors are also free to propose their own motions on next steps in the meantime, he pointed out.
Foulds was more optimistic about the meeting, and the path ahead.
“I probably could pick out three or four themes that have emerged,” he said. “I really hope administration picks up that ball and does some good work.”
Thursday's meeting was broadcast live and will be posted on the city's website, Gale noted.
