[00:00:03]
WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.[1. CALL TO ORDER]
THIS IS SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE, MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021, AND THE TIME IS 5:32 P.M.SORT OF ROLL CALL, MOST MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
COUNCILOR CYR, SENDS HIS REGRETS AND COUNCILOR PATRIE, MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND SHORTLY.
I'D ASK IF THERE'S ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS THIS EVENING.
ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES? NONE. NO PUBLIC PRESENTATION, NO CORRESPONDENCE.
SIX REPORTS, 6.1 REFERRAL FROM THE RECREATION AND CULTURE STANDING COMMITTEE.
[6.1. Referral from the Recreation and Culture Standing]
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 15621 TO ADD A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF SPACE TO THE NUCLEAR MINING MUSEUM.THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER TO COUNCILOR FINAMORE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RECREATION CULTURE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD ON FRIDAY, MAY 14TH, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED, MOVED BY COUNCILOR FINAMORE, AND SECONDED BY MAYOR MARCHISELLA, THAT THE REPORT OF THE INTERIM MUSEUM CURATOR DATED MAY 13, 2021 BE RECEIVED AND THAT THE RECREATION AND CULTURE STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNSEL THE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 156-21, WITH AN AMENDMENT TO ADD 1,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE TO THE NUCLEAR AND MINING MUSEUM IN FUTURE ITERATIONS OF THE DESIGN FOR THE NEW ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER AND THAT THE FOREGOING BE SUBMITTED RESPECTFULLY FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION AND I SO MOVE.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECONDER? SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MANN.
THANK YOU. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COUNCILOR FINAMORE?
>> I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO MISS DOMARO, WHO IS OUR INTERN MUSEUM CURATOR.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THROUGH YOU.
THIS REPORT IS ON BEHALF OF THE NUCLEAR AND MINING MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD WITH THE OBJECTIVE TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THE RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 15621, TO ADD 1,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE TO THE NUCLEAR AND MINING MUSEUM IN UPCOMING DESIGNS OF THE NEW ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.
SO AT THE APRIL 26, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE DESIGN OPTIONS OF THE NEW ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER WAS PASSED SO IT WAS THAT COUNCIL APPROVED DESIGN OPTION 2A TO PROCEED WITH FURTHER DESIGN AND FEASIBILITY STUDY AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF AND CONSULTANTS TO PURSUE THAT ZERO BUILDING OPTIONS FOR THE NEW FACILITY.
SO DESIGNS FOR THE NEW ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN PREVIOUS ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER STEERING COMMITTEE AGENDA BUT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS DESIGN OPTION 2A BE MADE AVAILABLE WAS IN THE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL 26, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING.
USER GROUPS AND COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE NOT GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION AND OFFER FEEDBACK AND THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED BEFORE THE DESIGN WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AT THE AFOREMENTIONED MEETING.
THIS IS WHY THE NUCLEAR AND MINING MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD OR JUST COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SPACE CURRENTLY DESIGNATED TO THE MUSEUM IN DESIGN OPTION 2A IS NOT APPROPRIATELY SIZED [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION AND PROVIDES [INAUDIBLE] THE SPACE DESIGNATED TO THE MUSEUM FOR EXCAVATION IN THE [INAUDIBLE] EPICURUS CIVIC CENTER WAS 3,787 SQUARE FEET, AND THE EXACT SPECIFICATIONS FOR STORAGE ARE UNKNOWN BECAUSE THIS WAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
AT THE SPACE DESIGNATED TO THE MUSEUM IN DESIGN OPTION 2A FOR EXHIBITION IS 2,285 SQUARE FEET AND FOR STORAGE IT IS 745 SQUARE FEET.
THE COMBINED TOTAL SPACE OF 3,050 SQUARE FEET.
SO AROUND 757 SQUARE FEETS ARE LESS THAN THE NEW DESIGN.
SO WHILE WE'RE NOT INTENDING TO REPLICATE THE PAST MUSEUM IN OUR NEW CIVIC CENTER AND SOME OF THE SPACING ISSUES WILL BE MITIGATED THROUGH THE SATELLITE EXCAVATION SPACE PROPOSED FOR OPEN VIEW ARTS AND CULTURE BUILDING.
WE STILL DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE SPACE FOR PERMANENT AND CIRCULATING EXHIBITIONS, ESPECIALLY AS WE DO HOPE TO EXPAND UPON OUR COLLECTION AND WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME ANY TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS INTO OUR SPACE.
WE WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE REQUISITE STORAGE SPACE TO PROVIDE ROOM TO HOUSE ALL OF THE CITIES ARTIFACTS IN OUR COLLECTION AND TO BE ABLE TO STORE THEM PROPERLY IN ONE SECURE LOCATION PROVIDING ALSO SPACE FOR FURTHER EFFECTUATING CONDITION REPORTING OF THOSE ARTIFACTS.
THE ADVISORY BOARD AND STAFF DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE APPROVED DESIGN OF THE NEW ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER FULFILL THE NEED AND URGE FOR MORE SPACE TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE NEW MUSEUM, OF WHICH THEY BELIEVE 1,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD BE SUITABLE TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND APPRECIATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES HERITAGE.
ALIGNING WITH THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN TO SUPPORT THE URBAN CULTURE COMMUNITY THROUGH PROVIDING A STRATEGIC VIBRANT AND RELEVANT MUSEUM FOR THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
[00:05:05]
>> THANK YOU. MS. DOMARO ONCE AGAIN.
I'LL ASK SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS I ASKED AT THE RECKON CULTURE STANDING.
AGAIN, KNOWING THAT THE CITY HAS QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT FACILITIES THAT WE OWN.
THE POTENTIAL STORING ARTIFACTS AND OTHER AREAS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN CONSIDERED OR ARE THE ARTIFACTS REQUIRED TO BE IN THE SAME BUILDING PERHAPS UNDER TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROLLED AREAS?
>> YEAH. THEY WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO BE SECURED IN A FACILITY WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED AND HEAT CONTROL OF COURSE AND WHILE IT'S NOT ESSENTIAL THAT THEY DO REMAIN ALTOGETHER, IT WOULD BE THE PREFERENCE JUST FOR EASE OF CONDITION FOR REPORTING AND [INAUDIBLE] AND JUST BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS PROTECTED BECAUSE WE DO, LIKE WE SAID IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, WE DO WANT TO TOTALLY MITIGATE ANY FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE MATERIALS AS THEY WERE ALREADY COMPROMISED WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE OLD CIVIC CENTER AND WE HAVE LOST A LOT DUE TO MOLD AND RUST.
SO OUR MAIN GOAL IS JUST TO AVOID ANY FURTHER DEGRADATION IN THE FUTURE AND SO, BEING ABLE TO HOUSE IT ALL IN ONE SECURITY SPACE WOULD DO THAT BUT OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HOUSE IT IN OTHER FACILITIES AS LONG AS THEY WERE IN THIS SORT OF OBVIOUSLY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED AND HUMIDITY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS BUT YEAH, SO IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO OUTSOURCE OTHER FACILITIES, YES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOLLOW UP MIGHT BE FROM MR. JUNTUNES, IF HE'S ONLINE HERE.
I HAD TO DO WITH THE TIME SENSITIVITY AS TO WHY WE CALL THE MEETING, A SPECIAL MEETING FOR TODAY RATHER THAN WAITING ANOTHER WEEK, MR. JUNTUNES, CAN YOU GIVE US JUST A LITTLE RUNDOWN AS TO THE TIME SENSITIVITY FOR THE CONSULTANTS, FUNDING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THROUGH YOU.
YES, THE APPLICATION FOR THE GREEN FUND WHICH IS THE MOST TIME SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR US IS DUE ON THE 5TH OF JULY BY MIDNIGHT IF MEMORY SERVES SO THE STEPS BACKWARDS FROM THERE, BECAUSE WE'VE CHOSEN TO, AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL TO APPLY FOR THE GREEN GRANT WHICH WOULD ALLOW A GOOD AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE MORE TIME TO GET IT DONE, THE BETTER.
THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE TIME SENSITIVITY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO INCORPORATE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED TO INCREASE THE ALLOCATION FOR SPECIAL GREEN CONSULTANTS SO WE'VE GOT TWO OTHER CONSULTING FIRMS NOW INVOLVED AS WELL THROUGH [INAUDIBLE] OUR ARCHITECT.
SO IT'S MUCH MORE INVOLVED NOW BECAUSE THEY [INAUDIBLE] DO ALL THE MATH AND THE SOURCING.
ARE THEY CONFIDENT THAT WE'VE GOT THE TIME AS OF NOW, YES.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF EVERY DAY, FIVE DAYS, 10 DAYS THAT WE DELAY, JUST SHRINKS THAT WINDOW AND IT ELIMINATES ANY TYPE OF CONTINGENCY SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
BUT REALLY A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR SHORT QUESTION.
MR. MAYOR, IS THE MORE TIME, THE BETTER WHICH IS THE REASON FOR CALLING YOU TODAY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. JUNTUNES. COUNCILOR PEARCE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. THROUGH YOU [NOISE] TO MS. D'AMATO IF I MAY.
FIRST, HOW MANY VISITORS WENT TO THE MUSEUM THE YEAR BEFORE THE BUILDING COLLAPSED?
>> THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 2,200 THOUGH.
>> TWO THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED. HOW MANY OF THEM WERE SCHOOLCHILDREN?
>> THAT I CAN NOT PROVIDE, UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NOT WITH THE CITY AT THE TIME, SO I CANNOT PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. SORRY.
>> OKAY. WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THE MUSEUM ARE SCHOOLCHILDREN?
>> AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY WITH THE MUSEUM FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE, SO I HAVE NOT BEEN [INAUDIBLE] DURING THE YEAR WHEN YOU WOULD'VE HAD REGULAR VISITORS.
I'VE ONLY BEEN DURING THE COVID-19.
THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAVE RELATE TO THE COLLECTION.
I THOUGHT WE LOST QUITE A FAIRLY SIZABLE AMOUNT OF THE COLLECTION WHEN THE BUILDING COLLAPSED AND WE'RE LEFT WITH NOT A VERY BIG NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS. IS THAT CORRECT?
[00:10:01]
WE DIDN'T LOSE A LOT.WE LOST ALMOST NOTHING BESIDES OUR RECORDS OF COURSE IN THE INITIAL COLLAPSE.
WHAT WE HAVE LOST SINCE HAS BEEN DUE TO DEGRADATION, SO MOLDING AND RUSTING.
A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE LOST IS BOOKS DUE TO MOLDS.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE CENTRAL EXPEDITION GOING ON BUT WE HAVEN'T LOST A LOT IN TERMS OF ARTIFACTS.
>> OKAY. ONE LAST QUESTION IF I MAY MR. MAYOR.
>> IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, THE ADDITION OF THIS SPACE IS ROUGHLY $400,000 ADDED TO THE COST OF THE BUILDING.
I'M WONDERING HOW, IN LIGHT OF THE REPORT WE GOT JUST IN THE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, HOW WE CAN JUSTIFY SPENDING $400,000 FOR STORAGE SPACE WHEN WE HAVE STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE SIZE OF THE COLLECTION AND WE DON'T KNOW THE COMPOSITION OF THE COLLECTION.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS, I WON'T SAY FRIVOLOUS, BUT IT'S UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES.
AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THERE WAS COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THROWING AROUND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON PIECES OF PAPER.
I THINK THROWING AROUND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON REALLY AN UNNECESSARY ADDITION TO THIS BUILDING IS UNWISE AND I WOULD STRONGLY VOTE AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH SOME OF COUNCILOR PEARCE'S COMMENTS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TALKING ABOUT RESERVES AND OF COURSE, THOSE THAT WEREN'T AT THE TABLE, WE HAD A RESERVE DISCUSSION AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THIS IS OUR MUSEUM.
WE NEED TO BUILD IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO INTO TRYING TO REDESIGN OR MOVE THINGS AROUND AFTERWARDS.
I THINK WE AS A MUNICIPALITY HAVE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT TUCKING BITS AND PIECES AWAY ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE HAVE LOTS OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN SHAPE THAT PROBABLY COULD USE SOME ATTENTION.
WE STORE THINGS IN THE REAL DEN THAT I WOULD CONSIDER NOT REALLY A REASONABLE USE FOR THAT SPACE.
WE NEED TO START PUTTING THINGS WHERE THEY BELONG.
I THINK IF WE HAVE A MUSEUM UNDER OUR ROOF, WE STORE EVERYTHING IN THE COLLECTION UNDER THE SAME ROOF.
[NOISE] AGAIN TO THE POINT OF THE SIZE I THINK IF WE WERE GOING TO BUILD IT PROPERLY LET'S DO IT RIGHT, SO I WILL SUPPORT IT TONIGHT.
HOPEFULLY THAT HALF A BILLION-DOLLAR TUBE OF PAPER THAT I REFERRED TO AT THE LAST MEETING COULD BE AN ARTIFACT THAT WE CAN HAVE ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM AT SOME POINT.
BECAUSE I THINK AGAIN IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I APOLOGIZE IF THAT'S TAKEN, I DON'T MEAN THAT WITH ANY DISRESPECT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S MAJOR, MAJOR MONEY.
BUT I HAVE A BIT OF A SOFT SPOT FOR THE MUSEUM, I'LL ABSOLUTELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN MY FAMILY THAT'S GONE INTO THAT MUSEUM IN THE PAST AS WELL AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ARTIFACTS THAT ARE WORTHY OF OUR MUSEUM FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE COUNCIL THAT, THAT 1,000 SQUARE FEET THAT THE MUSEUM BOARD IS ASKING IS NOT FOR STORAGE.
IT IS FOR MORE EXHIBITION SPACE AS WELL AS WITHIN THAT SPACE, THAT AREA WILL ENCOMPASS THE CURATOR'S OFFICE, THE ARCHIVING SPACE, A SECTIONING SPACE, STORAGE SPACE AND AS IN THE OLD MUSEUM, THEY HAD A SMALL CORNER OF IT THAT WAS THE GIFT SHOP, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK THE MUSEUM'S BOARD WANT OR NEED IS AT THIS POINT IS TO HOUSE THAT IN THERE AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FINDING A PLACE TO SHOVE SOME PAPER.
IT'S ABOUT DOING THIS RIGHT ONCE THE FIRST TIME AND DOING IT CORRECTLY AS FAR AS STORING STUFF OFF-SITE.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
IF WE ARE BUILDING STUFF WITH THE INTENTION OF USING OTHER BUILDINGS WE SHOULDN'T BE BUILDING ANYTHING.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY CARE FOR, SOME OF THESE ARE PRICELESS PIECES THAT NEED TO BE HOUSED CORRECTLY AND TAKEN CARE OF AND REGARDED WITH THE REVERENCE THAT THEY SHOULD BE.
[00:15:07]
THE REASON WE BROUGHT IT UP BACK THROUGH THIS CHANNEL IS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE DRAWINGS UNTIL THE COUNCIL MEETING.IT'S NOT LIKE THE DRAWINGS WERE LAYING AROUND FOR MONTHS AND THIS WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT OR AN OOPS.
THIS WAS A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND LISTENING TO STAFF AS WELL AS LISTENING TO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK IN THE MUSEUM.
THAT THIS IS WHAT IS REQUIRED.
THE METAL IN YOUR REPORT IN THE ANALYSIS, IT'S STILL PROPOSES THAT YOU TAKE THE 1000 SQUARE FEET ALLOCATED TO THE ARTS PEOPLE AND GIVE IT TO THE MUSEUM.
IS THAT CORRECT OR AS PER THE COMMITTEE MEETING IS THAT OFF THE TABLE NOW?
>> [INAUDIBLE] SORRY IF ANY OF THE LANGUAGE IN MY REPORT SPECIFIED THAT WE WERE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY SPACE FROM THE ART SPEEDING.
THAT'S NOT OUR INTENTION AT THE MOMENT.
I KNOW YOU WERE AT THE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE NUCLEAR AND MINING MUSEUM BOARD MEETING.
IT WAS VOICED THAT THEY DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY SPACE LOSS FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE GROUPS.
I BELIEVE WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THAT 1,000 SQUARE FEET BE ADDED ON TO THE DESIGN, WHICH I'M ASSUMING WOULD THE ADDED EXTERNALLY NOT MOVING AROUND ANYTHING INTERNALLY.
I'M NOT PRIVY TO THE ARCHITECTS HOW THEY WORK, SO I CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN, BUT THAT IS MY BEST GUESS, NOT TAKING AWAY ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY ELSE, BUT ADDING THE 1000 SQUARED FEET.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. WE SHOULD POINT OUT AT $383 A SQUARE FOOT OR 383,000 PLUS ANOTHER PERCENTAGE FOR THE NET-ZERO.
WE GO BACK TO COUNSELOR PEARCE , IT A $400,000 SPENT 1,000 SQUARE FEET.
HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT BUILDING THIS BUILDING JUST ON OUR OWN DIME, WE'RE AFTER TWO SPECIFIC GRANTS, THE GREEN INITIATIVES GRANT, WHICH CAN PAY 60 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR THE FIRST 10 MILLION AND 50 CENTS FOR THE NEXT 10 MILLION.
WERE ALSO AFTER THE CULTURAL SPACES GRANT, WHICH CAN PAY UP TO 75 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.
OUR COST LIKELY IS MORE LIKE A 100,000 INSTEAD OF 400,000.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DESPAIR THAT.
THE CONCERN I HAD WAS THAT THE ARTS SPACES WERE NOT REALLOCATED, THAT THEY STILL HAD THEIR SPACE.
THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHO CREATE ACTIVITY INSIDE THIS, WHAT WILL BECOME A LEGACY BUILDING FOR THE MUNICIPALITY.
IN FACT, I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH THE MUSEUM THEME AND WHAT GLASS WINDOWS DOWN THE HALLWAY WHERE THE ARTIST ARE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TOUR THE MUSEUM AND THEN GO WATCH THE ARTIST'S WORK.
GIFT SHOPS. I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO COMBINING IT WITH THE ARTS GIFT SHOP, MIGHT SAVE SOME SPACE.
WHAT ITEMS YOU HAVE STILL TO DISPLAY? I DON'T KNOW.
I'M RATHER DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT WE'VE LOST THINGS TO THE MOLD, WHICH IS KIND OF WONDER BOAT.
HOWEVER, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM ADDING THE SPACE FOR THE MUSEUM.
AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE ARTS.
IT IS AN ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER AND BOTH DESERVES SPACE.
CAN'T COME BACK WITH A TABLE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 500. THANK YOU.
[00:20:03]
>> THANK YOU. COUNSELOR PEARCE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE MUSEUM IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
I'M A VERY BIG SUPPORTER OF THE MUSEUM AND OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER.
I JUST THINK THAT YOU ARE MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FUNDING.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE THEME OF MY SPEECHES LATELY.
I AM VERY WORRIED THAT WE WILL NOT GET THE FUNDING THAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, YOU'RE ADDING 400,000 NOT 100,000, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT.
I WILL SUPPORT WHATEVER THE FINAL DECISION OF THE COUNCIL IS.
BUT I THINK THAT IT IS MISTAKE TO DO THIS IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE'RE DOING IT.
WE LOOKED VERY SERIOUSLY AT VARIOUS PLANS FOR THE MUSEUM AND THE CULTURAL CENTER. WE CHOSE IT.
WE CHOSE WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT ONE AND THEN SOMEBODY'S COME BACK AND SAID, WELL, WE'VE GOT TO ADD 100,000 SQUARE FEET.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY. THANK YOU.
>> COUNSELOR TURNER. [NOISE] YOU'RE MUTED.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. THEY SHOULD STAY THAT WAY.
I UNDERSTAND COUNSEL PEARCE'S CONCERN.
BUT SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK WE'RE BUILDING A 12-14 MILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURE ON OUR OWN DIME UNLESS WE GET THE GRANTS.
WE'RE DOING THIS IN PREPARATION FOR THE GRANT APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME SENSE OF POSITIVITY, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING.
I THINK THE ONE THING I WILL SAY TO THE MUSEUM BOARD IS, WELL, I UNDERSTAND OUR DESIRE TO RETAIN ARTIFACTS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY IS ONLY 50 YEARS OLD, SORRY, 67 YEARS OLD.
WE DON'T HAVE GENERATIVE EFFECTS HERE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REPLACED.
WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS EVERY TIME I WENT DOWN TO THE MUSEUM, I WASN'T EXACTLY STAMPEDED BY A CROWD OF PEOPLE.
I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
BUT MR. MATTO, YOU SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE A PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS AND TO MAKE IT A MORE INTERESTING PLACE.
SOME OPEN, YOU'LL STICK WITH THAT AND WE CAN SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.
JUST TO ADD TO COUNSELOR PEARCE'S COMMENT, I AGREE WITH HIM.
THE $400,000 IS A LOT, BUT IF WE DON'T GET FUNDING, WE HAVE A LARGER DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THESE FACILITIES.
IF NOT, THAT'S FACILITY THE OTHER.
I THINK WE DO OUR BEST TO INCLUDE AS MUCH AS WE CAN THAT'S REASONABLE, AND THEN IF NOT, WELL, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER CHAT AT SOME POINT.
HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT CHAT. THANK YOU.
>> JUST ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION.
THIS MUSEUM ISN'T GOING TO BE IN THE BASEMENT OF ANY, WHERE IS IT? [LAUGHTER] THAT'S DEFINITELY A DETERRENT FOR SOME.
MY MANY VISITS TO THE MUSEUM, I'LL BE QUITE FRANK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMERTIME ON QUITE A FEW OCCASIONS, I SAW FAMILIES FROM OUT OF TOWN, SOME THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY LIVED HERE THAT BROUGHT THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY TO GO THROUGH THE MUSEUM.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A MASSIVE MUSEUM, IT'S NOT THE ROME.
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE LIKE COMING BACK TO REMINISCE AND ESPECIALLY REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD GOLD MINING DAYS AND SO ON.
THE NUMBERS THAT I HAD SENT TO ME, WERE IN 2018, THERE WAS 2,756 VISITORS AND 2019, 3,625.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY SCHOOLCHILDREN IN TOWN.
SOME OF THEM HAD TO BE FROM ELSEWHERE.
I APPRECIATE IT COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE].
[00:25:01]
WELCOME. I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR A BIT, EVERYONE'S ALREADY GONE AROUND THE TABLE TWICE.>> THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYBODY SAID.
I'VE BEEN STUCK DOING SOME WORK BUT IF COUNSEL ISN'T INTERESTED IN ADDING THE 1,000 SQUARE FEET TO THE STRUCTURE THEN I THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THAT 1,000 SQUARE FEET MINIMUM FROM WHAT'S ALREADY BEING BUILT.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PREVIOUS MUSEUM WAS WAY LARGER THAN WHAT IS IN THE PLANS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING WHAT THE MUSEUM WAS THEN I'M OF THE BELIEF THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE INSURANCE MONEY AND HAD THE INSURANCE COMPANY REBUILD OUR MUSEUM.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SO WE'VE GOT 3.5 ALMOST $4 MILLION IN RESERVES FROM THE INSURANCE MONEY.
THAT'S NOT JUST TO BUILD THE STRUCTURE.
WE STILL HAVE TO REBUILD THE MUSEUM.
I'M OF THE OPINION THAT THE LESTER B. PEARSON CENTER WAS A THEATER, MUSEUM AND WELCOME CENTER OWNED BY THE MUNICIPALITY.
IT WAS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR.
IN THAT BUILDING WE HAD A LOT OF EXTRA SPACE AND WE GREW UP TO BENEFIT AND OFFER A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS.
THE PREDICAMENT IS, IF WE'RE WILLING TO SPEND $3 MILLION TO PUT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS BACK INTO THIS COMPLEX AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYERS AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT ON THE TAX ROLL IF WE'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS THAT $12 MILLION IS TAX MONEY.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING THAT $12 MILLION AND SPENDING THE $12 MILLION WHY ARE WE DOWNGRADING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I PUSHED FOR THE NET-ZERO AT THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
WE'RE GIVING THE SPACE AWAY FOR $500 A MONTH FOR ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND IF WE CAN AFFORD TO DO IT I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING IT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE AWAY SOMETHING FOR $500 THAT'S COSTING YOU $3 MILLION TO BUILD AND YOU HAVE TO OPERATE IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE TAXPAYERS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT AT LEAST LOSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU HAD BUT THEN I JUST WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER AS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THIS MUSEUM SPACE THERE'S GOING TO BE AND I'M GUESSING, MR. MANN YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME I DON'T THINK IS MISS HENSY WITH US I DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT 0.5 MILLION TO A MILLION DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE COST TO BUILD THE MUSEUM.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING SPACE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO BE HAD AND A LOT MORE RESPECT PUT THROUGH TO THE CONVERSATION OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THE INFANCY OF THIS BUT THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF STUFF THAT STILL HAS TO BE REMEMBERED, SO THE THEATER AS IT STANDS IS 90 SOME PERCENT ALL THAT'S REQUIRED IS A STAGE BUT WE STILL NEED MONEY FOR THAT STAGE.
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF EXPENSE THAT STILL HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SPECIAL MEETING IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET GRANT APPLICATIONS IN AND I'M IN FULL FAVOR OF APPLY NOW AND IF WE HAVE TO REJIG, WE REJIG, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS LOST BY THE MUNICIPALITY OWNED BY THE MUNICIPALITY SHOULD BE REPLACED IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PHILEMONA.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I JUST WANTED TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT THE ARTS CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS INTEGRAL TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THAT WE CAN'T FOREVER FORGET THAT THE ARTS GROUPS THAT WERE IN THE LAST TO BE PEARSON CENTER WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY IN THE WILLIAM KIDD BUILDING AND WHEN IT WAS DEMOLISHED
[00:30:01]
BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER VIABLE BUILDING THEY MOVED OVER FROM THERE.HISTORICALLY, THE CITY HAS ALWAYS RENTED THEM SPACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK IN.
I JUST WANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LESTER B.
PEARSON CENTER IT'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND IT INCLUDES THEM AS WELL.
WE GIVE MONEY EVERY YEAR OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY VIABLE AND WE HAVE TO COMMIT DOLLARS TO MAKING SURE OUR ARTS COMMUNITY IS VIABLE AS WELL.
IF ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IS THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND I THINK THAT THE ECONOMIC FLOW THAT COMES FROM THE EVENTS THAT THEY HOST AND THE RICH CULTURE THAT THEY ADD TO OUR COMMUNITY CAN'T QUANTIFY THAT IN DOLLARS.
IT'S INTEGRAL TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
ACTUALLY, HOLDING ONTO COUNCILOR TURNER'S COMMENT ABOUT THE GLASS WALLS IN THE ARTS SPACES THAT'D BE VERY INTERESTING TO GO THROUGH AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE DOING THE WEAVING OR POTTERY OR PAINTING MIGHT BE AN ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION.
>> IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH COUNCILOR PIEARSE.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I MISSED THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION.
>> THAT THE REPORT OF THE INTRAMUSEUM CURATOR DATED MAY 13TH, 2021, BE RECEIVED.
IS THAT IT COUNCILOR PHILEMONA?
>> THAT THEIR RECREATION CULTURE STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED COUNCIL THE RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 156_21 WAS AN AMENDMENT TO ADD 1,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE TO THE NUCLEAR MINING MUSEUM IN FUTURE ITERATIONS OF THE DESIGN FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER.
>> I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT WORDING.
I THINK THAT HAS TO COME BACK BECAUSE THERE'S MORE WORK THAT STILL HAS TO COME WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN.
>> I'M IN FAVOR, THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.
THERE'S NO NOTICE EMOTION THIS EVENING, NO OTHER BUSINESS, NO QUESTION PERIOD, NO CLOSE SESSION, BYLAWS 11.1, BYLAW 21_41.
[11.1. By-Law 21-41]
BEING BYLAW CONFIRMING THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD MAY 17TH, 2021. CAN I HAVE A MOVER.ALL THAT PLEASE MOVED BY COUNCILOR MANN, SECOND BY COUNCILOR PHILEMONA.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE] ANOTHER ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH COUNCIL PHILEMONA.
>> I'M IN FAVOR, THAT'S [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU. ADD A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOVED BY COUNCILOR MANN, SECOND. BY COUNCILOR [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING.
WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.