THUNDER BAY — City council has decided that the private sector better funds development on the waterfront.
Coun. Andrew Foulds, chair of the waterfront development committee (WDC), asked council to include a one-time funding contribution of $150,000 in the 2025 budget to advance development at the waterfront.
If it had been approved, administration could still have kept the tax-supported portion of the budget to the 3.8 per cent increase mandated by council.
However, several councillors including Mayor Ken Boshcoff, coun. Rajni Agarwal, and coun. Mark Bentz said the private sector would be better suited to developing the waterfront.
“I feel at this point the waterfront is really part of the community and doesn't really need another add-on to the budget, that everything can be done within the parks and rec,” said Boshcoff.
“I can't see putting money forward until that huge strategic direction for the massive piece of land be directed through the consultants that have been retained over the last couple of years,” said Agarwal.
“I can't see where this investment would actually supersede what we're already doing or waiting to be completed by our outside consultants that are in place,” she added.
In her comments, Agarwal referred to two developments at the marina, the proposed Science North building and festival area.
“Those are only two of the many projects," Foulds responded. "In the memo, there are things like the trail, things like education, things like communication. I mean, those are two big pieces that you just articulated, but there are many pieces that will inform many of the ways forward.”
The sum of $150,000 is significant Foulds said. And he suggested the committee could do better at communication with council. “But you did task us with doing work. That was more than just the festival area, more than just Pool 6,” he added.
The memorandum tabled by Foulds outlined key initiatives in the WDC’s 2024-2026 action plan, including continuing to develop properties along the waterfront, preserving industrial properties, the waterfront trail, and promotion and education about the waterfront.
Council voted against the WDC's request 11-2.
