In what has been a year of back-and-forth on the city's Millennium Park project, city council agreed on Aug. 15 that $16.9 million is the maximum amount that should be spent.
The agreement, which came in the form of a majority vote on a motion brought forward by Coun. Wes Brodhead, doesn't necessarily change the park plan, nor does it necessarily lower the cost of the park.
Brodhead's motion asked city staff to immediately bring forward a $16.9 million borrowing bylaw for Millennium Park, however, council heard on Tuesday that a borrowing bylaw won't be brought forward until early next year after administration presents the three new design options for the park that council asked to see this past May.
The three new designs will represent low, medium, and high cost options, with Brodhead's motion specifying that the high cost option must be equal to or less than $16.9 million. In May when council discussed design options for the park, the most expensive option and current concept plan came in with a $15.8 million price tag.
Brodhead said he brought the motion forward because he felt as though council has caused a year-long delay for the project, and he wants to see it get underway as soon as possible.
“We've lost an entire construction season now because we couldn't make a decision on what we wanted to build, and so now it's time to fish or cut bait,” he said.
Brodhead also said he wants to see a borrowing bylaw for Millennium Park in front of council sooner rather than later because the city's window to take on debt is closing before a multitude of $50 million or more projects are thought to get underway in the next few years, such as servicing the Lakeview Business District.
“To me, this is important,” Brodhead said.
“It's nice to build roads, it's nice to put pipes in the ground and service (land) — we've got to do all of that — but If we don't build the community that people want to live in, then what are we doing.”
Brodhead’s motion will allow the project could be completed in one phase, rather than the five phases that were previously thought to be needed. The up-front funding allows for “alternative design and construction delivery models” to be considered for the project, which can in turn reduce timelines and save cash, a report to council read.
“Currently ... the Millennium Park project is planned to occur over five phases and be completed over several years,” reads the report, written by city's interim manager of recreation development and partnerships, Manda Wilde.
“This motion (changes) the project phasing, enabling the design to be completed for the entire site and construction to occur in a single phase.”
Prior to voting, Mayor Cathy Heron said she was in favour of the motion because she thought completing the project in a single phase might create efficiencies that could save the city money.
“We're going to find those efficiencies (by) having contractors on site ... and we're not going to have to put our residents through years and years of construction on this park,” Heron said.
“Council has identified Millennium Park as a priority not just for a community gathering space but also as a catalyst for economic development downtown.”
Council approved Brodhead's motion with only Coun. Sheena Hughes opposed.
During debate, Hughes said she was voting against the motion because it felt like council was needlessly rushing to a decision.
“I also just recognize that we may be rushing this more than we need to and if we just wait a few more months, we would have a much clearer picture of what we're even agreeing to,” Hughes said, adding that the low cost option set to be presented next year may not even require the city to take on debt.
