THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay Police Service have launched the first stage of developing a new police campus that wouldn't be ready for another four years.
The city has issued a Request for Proposals to provide project management services for the planning and construction of a building to replace the existing 37-year-old headquarters on Balmoral Street.
The move is in keeping with a city council decision in February to authorize $2.4 million for project management, design, site analysis and property purchase.
In its RFP, the city notes that at this point it is only committed to the first phase of what would be a three-stage project should it ultimately make a decision to build a new police station.
After hiring a consultant who recommended it as the most cost-effective option for dealing with shortcomings at the Balmoral Street station, the Thunder Bay Police Services Board had initially requested $56 million for the project.
Debenture payments would push the city's cost to over $80 million, but Mayor Bill Mauro estimated it could ultimately reach $100 million.
In late January, the police board withdrew its request and asked that the money not be allocated until the 2023 city budget.
The board chair at the time, Coun. Kristen Oliver, said "We don't want the capital build to be a distraction" in the midst of investigations and complaints involving the police leadership.
Instead, the board asked council for the smaller amount to keep the project moving forward.
That was approved in an 8-4 vote.
Subsequently, the Ontario government appointed an administrator to oversee the police board, and Oliver and two other members of the five-member board resigned.
In another important development, Police Chief Sylvie Hauth – a staunch proponent of replacing the existing headquarters – recently announced her retirement plans. This happened the same day that the Ontario Civilian Police Commission revealed she would face a hearing under the Police Act for alleged misconduct.
This week, the police board said it had suspended Hauth from her duties pending the outcome of the hearing.
The allegations against her have yet to be proven.
The recent turmoil seems unlikely to prevent work toward a new police campus from proceeding.
According to Coun. Mark Bentz, who has vigorously opposed the $2.4 million expenditure from the outset, that would require a council member who supported it to seek a reconsideration of the matter.
Aldo Ruberto, one of the eight who voted in favour, told TBnewswatch he sees no reason to postpone work that he believes is already proven to be necessary no matter who's going to be in charge of policing.
"You know it's needed. You know it's gotta be done. Every delay you have costs us millions when it comes to facilities like this," Ruberto said.
The project schedule outlined in the city's RFP shows the management contract being awarded this August, with the identification and securing of property for the police campus taking place in the spring of 2023.
In Phase Two, detailed design and cost estimates would be submitted sometime after July 2023, while in Phase Three a construction contract would be awarded in 2024.
It's anticipated that the building would open sometime in the late winter of 2026.
A previously-completed Needs Assessment Study identified potential sites, but those locations have not been publicly disclosed.
