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THANK YOU. CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF
[CALL TO ORDER]
ELLIOT LAKE MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021.AS FAR AS ROLL CALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILOR MANN WHO SENDS HIS REGRETS AND COUNCILOR CYR WHO ALSO SENDS HIS REGRETS.
I'D ASK IF THERE IS ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST THIS AFTERNOON.
SEEING NONE. THERE'S NO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, THERE IS NO CORRESPONDENTS REPORT, SIX
[6.1. Report of the Special Projects Manager 2 re: NOHFC Enhance Your Community Stream Grant Application]
POINT ONE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER NONOHFC ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY STREAM GRANT APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION THAT THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER DATED JULY 15 2021 BE RECEIVED AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR THE NONOHFC ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY STREAM GRANT FOR THE REPLACEMENT DEHUMIDIFIER AT THE RUBEN YLI-JUUTI CENTRE AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO PURCHASE THE DEHUMIDIFIER REGARDLESS OF THE SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION, AS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN THE 2021 CAPITAL BUDGET.CAN I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? MOVED BY COUNCILOR PEARCE.
SECOND BY COUNCILOR FINAMORE AND MR. ANTUNES. I'LL LET YOU FIRE ME ON THIS ONE.
THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU AND TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR MEETING FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING THIS EVENING.
I'LL TRY AND MAKE IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE AND GET YOU OUT OF HERE AS SOON AS WE CAN.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED AT PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCILOR PATRIE HAD GIVEN DIRECTION TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT GRANTS FOR SOME OF THE FACILITIES.
IT WAS NOTED IN THE 2020 [INAUDIBLE] ENERGY SYSTEM REPORT THAT WAS ALSO PRESENTED TO COUNCIL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT THE DEHUMIDIFIER AT THE POOL WAS AT THE VERGE OF FAILING BEYOND REPAIR. DO A LIMITED OPERATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PANDEMIC EXCUSE ME, THE LIFE OF THE UNIT WAS STRETCHED OUT.
AND NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT A REPLACEMENT AS AN OLD COUNCIL DID APPROVE REPLACEMENT IN THE 2021 BUDGET.
THE NOHFC ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY STREAM DOES ALLOW FOR 50 CENT FUNDING OF COSTS UP TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
UPON COUNCILOR PATRIE'S RECOMMENDATION, THE TIMING KIND OF WORKED OUT FAIRLY WELL.
WE DID REACH OUT TO THE NOHFC AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A BIT DIFFERENT GUIDANCE ON THINGS TO APPLY FOR, AS IT STANDS, APPLYING FOR SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE SHOULD NOT IMPACT OTHER REQUESTS THAT WE MAKE GOING DOWN THE LINE.
BUT THERE STILL IS NOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUNDLE ITEMS TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS TO STAFF AT THE TIME WAS POTENTIALLY TO LOOK AT BUNDLING FACILITIES TOGETHER AND THE ADVICE GIVEN TO STAFF WAS APPLY AS YOU NEED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
THIS ONE, THEN YOU DO--MY GOODNESS, YOUR WORSHIP LIKE YOU, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE WORD OUT EITHER--THE NEW DEHUMIDIFIER--I NEED TO ENUNCIATE--IS THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PLUS SIX PERCENT IN ENGINEERING FEES FOR A TOTAL OF THREE SEVENTY ONE AT FIFTY CENT DOLLARS, WE WOULD BE AT ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND.
THIS POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE COME BACK AS A MEMO AS PART OF THIS, BUT STAFF SENT IT THROUGH AS AS A REPORT TO GIVE COUNCIL MORE INFORMATION.
THE REASON FOR ADDING IT TO THIS MEETING IS WE WERE DOING THE SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE OF THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND THIS IS OF TIGHT TIMELINE AS WE GO ON NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN NEW DIRECTION.
SO ULTIMATELY, RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF IS TO HAVE COUNCIL GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO APPLY FOR IT. AND WHETHER WE GET APPROVED OR NOT, WE DO STILL NEED TO GET IT.
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO GET IT IN AT FIFTY CENT DOLLARS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WAS BRIEF ENOUGH AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY POP UP.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? COUNCILOR PATRIE? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE NO ISSUES DOING THIS, I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S COMING FORWARD AND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
MY QUESTION IS, AND I'M GOING TO PUT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IN THERE, WHY WOULD WE NOT APPLY FOR THE WHOLE EIGHT FIFTY TWO WHEN WE HAVE A REPORT THAT SAYS THAT ALL OF THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE? IT IS ALL ONE FACILITY.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A KICK AT THE CAT AND WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THREE FIFTY, WHY WOULDN'T WE APPLY FOR THE WHOLE EIGHT FIFTY TWO FOR FIFTY CENT DOLLARS IS MY FIRST ONE.
SO I'M GOING TO PUT AN AMENDMENT IN THERE AND MS. BRAY MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE SOME WORDING IN THAT SECOND PARAGRAPH, BUT BECAUSE IT STRICTLY
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SAYS JUST THE REPLACEMENT DEHUMIDIFIER.BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE APPLYING FOR THE WHOLE EIGHT FIFTY TWO FOR ALL THE WORK REQUIRED AT THE POOL. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT THAT AS AN AMENDMENT OR AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. IS THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE MOVER AND SECONDER TO ADD THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO GO FOR THE WHOLE THING? I THINK MR. ANTUNES HAD SOMETHING HE WANTED TO SAY FIRST.
MR. ANTUNES? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO COUNCILOR PATRIE TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILOR PATRIE ONE OF THE REASONS FOR DOING THE HUMIDIFIER, NOT EVERYTHING ELSE, IS THE DIRECTION FROM NOHFC, IS THAT ANY ITEMS THAT WERE PUT INTO THE POOL OR TO ANY FACILITY EXCUSE ME, THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S A FIVE TO SEVEN YEAR.
THE DEHUMIDIFIER COULD THEORETICALLY BE USED AT THE NEW BUILDING, SO WE WOULD NOT BE MAKING IT SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD CLAW BACK.
IF YOU DO HAVE AND WITHOUT OUR PUBLIC CONSULTATION COMING UP, WHICH WILL GIVE US DIRECTION AS TO WHAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE TO BUILD, IF WE DO GO WITH SOMETHING THAT GIVES US A MUCH QUICKER BUILD OF THE RECREATION FACILITY, THE CONCERN OF STAFF IS THAT IF WE DO EVERYTHING ELSE WE PUT IN FOR EIGHT FIFTY TO GET FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND IN FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT THEY CAN FULLY CLAW THAT BACK IF THE FACILITY IS NOT OPERATIONAL FOR FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, WHERE THE IDEA WAS THAT THE DEHUMIDIFIER COULD BE USED AT THE NEW FACILITY. SO THE HOPE IS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CLAW BACK ON THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE REPAIR LIST WOULD NOT BE CARRIED OVER FROM TO THE NEW FACILITY JUST BY THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY ARE.
GOD FORBID, WE WIN THE LOTTERY AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, YES, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US MONEY TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY AND WE CAN HAVE IT UP AND BUILT AND OPEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
I'M WILLING TO RISK LOSING THAT EXTRA FUNDING.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I WOULD RATHER RISK CLAW BACK THAN HAVE TO SPEND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON THE OTHER FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK THAT'S REQUIRED.
I BELIEVE THE REPORT, I THINK THAT IF WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE BOILERS IN AND WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL THE WORK TO IT, WE SHOULD AT LEAST APPLY FOR THE FUNDING AND RISK A POTENTIAL CLAW BACK. AND IF NEED BE, WE CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THE PROVINCE AT THAT TIME.
THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP THE POOL UP AND RUNNING.
AND IF WE CAN GET FUNDING TO HELP US DO THAT, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT AT THIS POINT. AND SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT WITH THIS FOR THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BEFORE, BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD AFTER.
ARE THE MOVER AND SECONDER OKAY WITH THAT BEING AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AN AMENDMENT.
IS THERE A SECONDER FOR THE AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE ALL REPAIRS? COUNCILOR FINAMORE. FOR DISCUSSION, BECAUSE I HAVE A QUESTION.
I SEE WHERE COUNCILOR PATRIE IS GOING WITH THIS ONE.
IF WE DO RECEIVE 14, 15 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING AND THEY WANT TO CLAW BACK FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND, IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
BUT IF WE DON'T GET IT, AT LEAST THE POOL'S REPAIRED AND WE'LL MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ANOTHER 10, 15 YEARS.
OK, IS THERE OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON ON THE AMENDMENT? AM I CORRECT ON WHAT YOUR ASSUMPTION WAS? COUNCILOR PATRIE? YOU'RE 100 PERCENT CORRECT, MR. MAYOR.
MR. ANTUNES? THANK YOUR WORSHIP FOR YOU.
THE ONLY CAUTION I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THAT WE WE WOULD JUST BE INCREASING OUR SPEND.
WE WERE BUDGETED FOR ABOUT THREE FIFTY TO BUY THE DEHUMIDIFIER IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET IN 2021. IF WE DO GO FOR EIGHT FIFTY AGAIN, THAT'S FOUR TWENTY FIVE.
SO AS LONG AS COUNCIL GIVES DIRECTION TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TWENTY FIVE WHICH WOULD BE THE 50 CENT DOLLAR INCREASE.
SO WE WERE PLANNING ON SPENDING THREE FIFTY ON, ON THE DEHUMIDIFIER.
IF WE GO WHOLE HOG AT EIGHT FIFTY TWO, IF MEMORY SERVES, YEP EIGHT FIFTY TWO PLUS WHATEVER FEES THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND OF COURSE WITH THE EXTRA FEES.
SO AGAIN JUST SO COUNCIL IS AWARE BUT STAFF IS HAPPY TO FOLLOW WHATEVER DIRECTION IT IS GIVEN. COUNCILOR PEARCE? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THROUGH YOU.
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I WOULD TAKE IT THE OTHER WAY.I'M MORE CONCERNED THAT WE START SPENDING EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WE DON'T GET THE GRANT. AND THEN WE GOT TO SPEND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS POOL IS GOING TO BE AROUND IN FIVE YEARS. SO I HAVE VERY REAL DIFFICULTY WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO IS DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO KEEP THE POOL OPERATING AND WHILE WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON THE BUILDING OF A NEW RECREATION CENTER.
I THINK THE SPENDING WOULD BE GRANT DEPENDENT.
YEAH. OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THROUGH BUDGET WAS JUST THE DEHUMIDIFIER. WHICH WE I'M SORRY, AS A FOLLOW UP, I MEAN, WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY NOW ON THAT DEHUMIDIFIER.
AND SO, MR. ANTUNES, I THINK I'M RIGHT IN THIS, MR. ANTUNES IS SAYING IS, OK, WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET HALF OF IT BACK. BUT IF WE SPEND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE WE'RE GOING TO GET ANY OF THAT BACK.
SO AND THE WAY THESE GOVERNMENTS WORK, PARTICULARLY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY FUNDING FROM THEM THAT I CAN SEE COMING IN THE SHORT TERM.
MR. ANTUNES, STAFF WOULDN'T BE SPENDING THE MONEY PRIOR TO A FUNDING AGREEMENT.
THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THROUGH YOU TO COUNCILOR PEARCE KNOW COUNCILOR PEARCE AND NOHFC IS FAIRLY STRICT IN THEIR MANDATE IN THE WAY IT'S DONE THAT THEY DON'T LET YOU GO SHOPPING TILL THEY'VE APPROVED IT.
AND USUALLY YOU HAVE TO BE INTO THE STREAM, SOMETIMES YOU CAN THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE THE APPLICATION IN PLACE AND HAVE APPROVAL THROUGH THE NOHFC, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A MORE PRESSING ITEM FOR THAT.
SO IT'S NOT A SPEND AND THEN APPLY BACK.
IT'S PUT IN THE APPLICATION THEY APPROVE AND THEN YOU GET TO GO SHOPPING.
TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT MR. ANTUNES IS SAYING.
I DON'T WANT TO BUY THE DEHUMIDIFIER UNTIL WE GET TOLD YES OR NO REGARDING THE GRANT.
THE FINAL LINE OF THAT RECOMMENDATION AND THE RESOLUTION, I THINK IS A MOOT POINT ANYWAY.
WE HAVE GIVEN DIRECTION TO STAFF AND AUTHORIZE THE BUDGET FOR THE DEHUMIDIFIER.
WE'VE JUST GOTTEN LUCKY AND THERE'S A GRANT APPLICATION AVAILABLE.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ORDER THE DEHUMIDIFIER UNTIL YOU'RE TOLD WHETHER YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT ON THE GRANT APPLICATION.
BUT STAFF DOES HAVE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLAR EXPENSE IF WE'RE NOT APPROVED SO THAT THERE'S ALREADY DIRECTION AND A RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE THAT.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO JUST THROW THAT POTENTIAL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR FUNDING APPLICATION OUT THE WINDOW, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT YOU MIGHT GET 15 MILLION COUNCILOR PEARCE SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING.
WELL, THEN APPLY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING AT ALL IF WE DON'T APPLY FOR ANYTHING.
SO THAT'S WHY PREVIOUSLY I HAD SAID, LET'S APPLY.
AND IF WE'VE GOT A REPORT THAT SAYS THAT WE NEED EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK, LET'S TRY AND GET THE EIGHT FIFTY TWO.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK REALLY FOOLISH IF WE APPROVE STRICTLY THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND. AND PRIOR TO HAVING THE DEHUMIDIFIER INSTALLED, WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, PROBABLY NOT ALL OF IT.
BUT EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT TO DO ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH THAT, YOU COULD HAVE APPLIED FOR FUNDING AND YOU JUST WALKED AWAY FROM IT.
I JUST THINK IT'S TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE APPLYING FOR AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I AGREE WITH MR. ANTUNES SAYS THEY SAY YOU CAN'T BUNDLE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, BUT THIS IS ALL ONE FACILITY AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE AT ONE FACILITY.
WE SHOULD BE APPLYING FOR AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THAT FACILITY TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
COUNCILOR PEARCE. NO, I THINK COUNCILOR PATRIE IS MAKING A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT, I JUST I'M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS, THAT'S ALL.
I'M VERY, VERY NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, YEAH, IF WE CAN GET THE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, GET THE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR WHATEVER IT IS, BUT.
BUT MEANTIME, WE STILL CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE DEHUMIDIFIER REGARDLESS, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR RESPONSE? DID WE NOT APPROVE THE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE DEHUMIDIFIER? SO IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, WE CAN STILL GO AHEAD WITH THE DEHUMIDIFIER FOR THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND? YEAH. OK, THAT'S FINE, THANK YOU.
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ANTUNES ON THE RESPONSE FROM NOHFC? USUALLY IT ISN'T VERY LONG.THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR INFORMATION AND OUR CONTACT INFORMATION HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND PUSH TOO MUCH UNTIL I GOT APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL TO GET THE GRANT IN.
BUT NOHFC IS USUALLY VERY HELPFUL AND THEY'RE FAIRLY QUICK.
IT'S NOT A TWENTY FOUR HOUR TURNAROUND, BUT THEY WILL OFFER DIRECTION AND BE VERY QUICK AND THEY MAY EVEN ONCE WE DO INCREASE THE GRANT APPLICATION TO INCLUDE ALL THE ITEMS IN IT, THEY MAY COME BACK AND AGAIN THROUGH GUIDANCE, SAY MAYBE NOT A GOOD IDEA TO APPLY FOR ALL OF IT. BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD TAKE DIRECTION FROM OUR CONTACT.
AND A QUICK POINT TO COUNCILOR PATRIE, THE LAST LINE IN THE RECOMMENDATION COUNCILOR PATRIE MIGHT JUST BE A LITTLE INEXPERIENCED FROM MY SIDE.
I APOLOGIZE. IT WAS, COUNCIL, THERE WAS THE DIRECTION TO APPLY FOR GRANTS AND IT WAS PLURAL. SO I JUST HAD THAT LINE IN THERE THAT IF THIS ONE DIDN'T GET APPLIED, THAT THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE IN THE COVER THAT WE CAN GO AFTER.
SO IT WAS JUST TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE REQUIRED FOR THE DEHUMIDIFIER.
COUNCILOR FINAMORE? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES WHILE WE'RE SEARCHING FOR OTHER OPTIONS.
AND I THINK THIS IS JUST THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
THIS DOESN'T STOP US FROM COMING FORWARD WITH OTHER PROJECTS FROM OTHER FACILITIES.
CORRECT, MR. ANTUNES, THAT THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE DONE SEPARATELY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LUMP THEM TOGETHER, CORRECT? THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP, COUNCILOR FINAMORE, ABSOLUTELY, THERE ARE THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE ASKS, BUT JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
BECAUSE YOU ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO GET MULTIPLE TIMES AND DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU'RE ASKING FOR, THE PROVINCE DOES DOLE OUT MONEY.
AND A BRIEF OVERVIEW UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAVE IS THEY WILL ONLY APPROVE SO MANY PROJECTS. SO IF YOU PUT IN 10 PROJECTS, THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY APPROVE ALL OF THEM, BUT AGAIN, THEY ALL GET REVIEWED.
AND IT DEPENDS ON THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW GRACIOUS THE APPLICATION BOARD IS FEELING AND WHAT THEY WHAT THEIR DECISION CRITERIA ARE.
AND IF WE DID NOT PUT THROUGH THE FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BOILER HEATER AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER HEATER, THE EXHAUST AND THE POOL MECHANICAL VENTILATION, IF THAT CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED.
THEN IF WE JUST DID THE DEHUMIDIFIER, IT WOULDN'T MATTER.
CORRECT? WE WOULDN'T HAVE A POOL.
THIS WAY, WE'LL GET EVERYTHING DONE AT ONCE.
MR. ANTUNES? THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP TO COUNCILOR FINAMORE WE DID HAVE WITH OUR MANAGER OF FACILITIES, WE DID LAYOUT A TIMELINE FOR THE THOSE OTHER ITEMS AND OF COURSE, NONE OF US HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL. IF WE DID, WE SIX OUT OF FORTY NINE NUMBERS AND PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE. BUT THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD OUTLINED WERE THE DEHUMIDIFIER WE'RE REQUIRED FOR THIS YEAR. THE EXERCISE ROOM, FRONT LOBBY, HVAC AND REPLACEMENT BOILER WERE SLATED TO BE PUT THROUGH THE CAPITAL PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR AND THEN GENERAL EXHAUST CHANGE FROM HVAC WAS SLATED FOR 2023.
SO WE DID SIT DOWN AND SCHEDULE THEM OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THE FACILITY WAS BUILT IN NINETEEN SEVENTY FIVE.
SO THERE'S NO AGAIN NO ONE HAS A CRYSTAL BALL.
BUT WE DID BREAK DOWN THE COSTING OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE FINANCIALLY TO THE MUNICIPALITY.
COUNCILOR TURNER. THANK YOUR WORSHIP, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THE VENTILATION SYSTEM THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PRIORITY HERE AND THAT THE OTHER OBJECTS ON THE LIST OF THE REPLACEMENT ITEMS ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND COUNCIL IS YET TO MAKE A DECISION WITH REGARDS TO THE RECREATION COMPLEX.
HOPEFULLY THAT CAN BE DONE IN A REASONABLE FUTURE, BUT IN THE INTERIM.
WHY SPEND MONEY THIS YEAR? OR COMMIT MONEY THIS YEAR WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT CRYSTAL BALL.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE DECIDED, SO I DON'T MIND FIXING THE PRIORITY PROJECTS TO
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GET THE PLACE IN OPERATION.I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S LITTLE OR NO REDUNDANCY AMONG THE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE POOL ITSELF. SO IF ONE HAS A CATASTROPHIC FAIL, ESSENTIALLY WE END UP WITH A SHUTDOWN.
BUT FROM THE REPORT HERE, THE INDICATORS THAT VENTILATION AND THEN IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WE CAN LOOK TO DO THE OTHER THINGS, I SUSPECT IN THE COMING YEARS THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WE CAN MAKE FOR ANY OF THOSE ITEMS ALSO.
THANK YOU. OK, ANY OTHER FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THE AMENDMENT? MS. BRAY, CAN YOU READ THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE, BEFORE I CALL FOR A VOTE.
YES, YOUR WORSHIP? SO THE AMENDMENT'S MOVED BY COUNCILOR PATRIE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FINAMORE AND THAT COUNCILOR DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR THE NOHFC, ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY STREAM GRANT FOR ALL THE WORK REQUIRED AT THE RUBEN YLI-JUUTI CENTRE.
THAT'S CARRIED. SO THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AS AMENDED, IS THERE ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION? COUNCILOR PATRIE.
THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU ALL OF COUNCIL RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MRS. MARGETTS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS STRICTLY TO THE REC AND CULTURE COMMITTEE OR IF IT WAS TO COUNCIL, BUT THERE WAS AN ESTIMATE FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BRING UP A COMPANY CALLED AQUATIC ASSOCIATES, TIM HAMEL, WHO MRS. MARGETTS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH QUITE SUBSTANTIALLY AND AT THE BEQUEST OF MAYBE OUR ACTING CAO OR MR. ANTUNES EITHER DIRECTION OR AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT, I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO CONTACT MRS. MARGETTS AND MR. HAMEL, AND I THINK THAT THE THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS A VERY WISE SPEND TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE NEED FOR THE FACILITY BEYOND JUST THE HVAC AND VENTILATION AND DEHUMIDIFIER PROBLEMS, WE HAVE MAJOR STRUCTURAL WHILE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN CLEARANCE ON STRUCTURAL ON THE BUILDING, BUT WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE POOL ITSELF AND WITH OTHER WORKINGS WITHIN THE FACILITY.
AND I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO BE WORKING WITH THEM AND GET THAT BROUGHT UP SO THAT WE DO KNOW, COUNCILOR TURNER SAYS WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
LET'S TRY AND GET SOME INFORMATION ON THE TABLE FOR US TO NOT HAVE TO RELY ON A CRYSTAL BALL SO THAT WE I JUST WANT TO SEE THE FACILITY GO DOWN.
SO FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT AS TO THE PREDICAMENT THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THAT FACILITY, I THINK IT'S VERY WISE SPEND AND I'LL LET THE DISCUSSION GO BEFORE IF OUR ACTING CLERK OR STAFF SAY DIRECTION IS FINE, THEN I CAN LEAVE IT AS DIRECTION.
OR DO WE WANT A AMENDMENT WITH THAT AS WELL? MR. ANTUNES? THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO COUNCILOR PATRIE.
I ALSO DID RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AND TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MARGETTS. THE INFORMATION WAS PASSED ONTO OUR MANAGER OF FACILITIES AS TO THE CONSULTING COMPANY THAT WAS REFERENCED IN THE DISCUSSION, THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD INTERNALLY CENTERED A BIT AROUND.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC FORUM COMING UP TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO RENOVATE OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A PRE ENGINEERED STRUCTURE OR GO ON FOR A FULLY CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURE. AND THE INITIAL BRIEF DISCUSSION INTERNALLY WAS EVEN AT A THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR SPEND, IF THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL FROM THE COMMUNITY IS TO BUILD NEW AND NOT RENOVATE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, EVEN THE THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR SPEND WAS UNNECESSARY.
IF THERE IS A NEED TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING FACILITY, CERTAINLY THAT WOULD FLOW INTO IT.
BUT MY DISCUSSION INTERNALLY WAS AROUND THE IDEA OF WE'D WAIT TILL WE GOT DIRECTION, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO RENOVATE BEFORE WE SPENT THE MONEY DOING THAT.
BUT IF COUNCIL WANTS TO GIVE DIRECTION TO GO IN AND DISCUSS WITH THE MANAGER OF FACILITIES TO BRING THAT PERSON IN OR A CONTRACTOR OR COMPANY OF HIS CHOOSING, OUR MAJOR
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FACILITIES IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE MANAGING FACILITIES.SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S THAT OR ANOTHER ONE, THERE JUST WASN'T A MOVE FORWARD YET FOR THAT VERY REASON.
COUNCILOR TURNER? THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.
JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON ONE THING, I THINK THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION OR ZOOM MEETING THAT'S BEING PROPOSED THIS IS NOT A REFERENDUM; IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.
SO COUNCILOR IS NOT WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE MEETING, COUNCIL IS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE.
SO, NOTHING DEPENDS ON THAT MEETING.
COUNCILOR PATRIE HAS A GOOD IDEA.
THE CONSULTANT PROPOSED BY MARGETTS IS AN EXPERIENCED PERSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE CONSULTANT HAS TO SAY, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DILLY DALLY LOOKING AROUND JUST THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT'S A VERY EASY SPEND AND WE GET ON WITH IT.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION JUST DIRECTION OF STAFF.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FINAMORE? I'M WONDERING IF SOMEONE COULD FORWARD ME THAT E-MAIL BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECEIVE THAT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT A CONSULTANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSULTED BEFORE WE CAME UP WITH THE LIST. IF WE DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CORRECT LIST, I'M TRUSTING THAT OUR STAFF KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND IS CONSULTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THIS.
SO I THINK THAT IT SHOULD JUST BE DIRECTION TO STAFF; I DON'T THINK IT'D BE INCLUDED IN THIS BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE PUTTING A HORSE AFTER THE CART, IF IT'S IN REGARDS TO THE REPAIRS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING TODAY.
BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT FURTHER RENOVATIONS, THEN I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. AND NOT TO CONTRADICT COUNCILOR TURNER, BUT WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY AT THAT MEETING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND IT MAY NOT BE A REFERENDUM, BUT IT WILL HELP ME BASE WHAT MY DECISION WILL BE.
SO JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN THIS EMAIL FROM MS. MARGETTS EITHER OR ABOUT THE CONSULTANT, NOT THAT I RECALL ANYWAY.
THE CONSULTANTS THAT WE'VE HAD AND I'VE SEEN THREE DIFFERENT REPORTS ON THE POOL IN THE LAST SIX YEARS ALL HAVE TO DO WITH MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL.
THEY'RE ALL ENGINEERING FIRMS. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS CONSULTANT THAT SHE'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT IS ONE THAT LOOKS AT THE LOOK OF THE POOL, THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION OF THE POOL.
ARE THEY AN ENGINEER OR THE ELECTRICIAN? PLUMBER? WHAT WHAT BACKGROUND WHAT BASIS IS THIS RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM? I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD MEMBERS OF ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES VERY ADAMANT THAT WE NEEDED TO GET SOMEBODY IN HERE TO LOOK AT MAKING THE VIEWING SPACE FOR SWIM MEETS BETTER MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL EITHER, SO I'M NOT SURE MR. ANTUNES, MAYBE YOU CAN FILL US IN HERE, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. ABSOLUTELY YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MEMBERS OF COUNCILOR.
THIS CONSULTANT WAS INITIALLY ONE OF THE SCOPES OF IT WAS THE POOL DECK AND THE FOOTINGS IN THE BOTTOM AREA OF IT.
I DO HAVE THE, QUOTE, INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME, AND ESSENTIALLY THE QUOTE INCLUDES TRAVEL TO AND FROM HAMILTON ELLIOT LAKE TO COMPLETE AN INSPECTION OF THE EXISTING POOL, SHELL, MECHANICAL AND EQUIPMENT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO POOL MECHANICAL AND FILTRATION ROOM, HAVE A MEETING WITH THE ONSITE STAFF TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAMING CHALLENGE AND THEN GENERATE A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.
WE'VE HAD MECHANICAL, AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE ONE THROUGH [INAUDIBLE], WE'VE HAD STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING BEFORE, PART OF THE CONCERN IS, IS PERHAPS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH OF A INSPECTION DONE INTO THE POOL DECKING AND SHELL UNIT.
SO, AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER INSPECTION THROUGH A DIFFERENT CONSULTING FIRM.
AND HOW MUCH INFORMATION AND WHAT DIFFERENT INFORMATION THEY WILL PROVIDE IS UNKNOWN TO
[00:30:02]
STAFF, BUT IT'S DRAWN THROUGH THE COMMITTEE.A COMMITTEE MEMBER DID GO AND DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO THIS FIRM.
AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT THE COMMITTEE DIDN'T FEEL THAT ENOUGH OF AN INSPECTION WAS DONE INTO THE SHELL OF THE POOL.
AND EXCUSE MY IGNORANCE, THE, BASIC TOP OF WHAT THE POOL IS AND THE FOOTING AND THE GROUND SURROUNDING IT, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS DRIVEN FROM.
BUT HAPPY TO FORWARD THIS INFORMATION, THIS QUOTE, TO COUNCIL AS WELL.
QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILOR PEARCE. JUST LISTENING TO WHAT MR. ANTUNES IS SAYING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS BASICALLY DUPLICATION OF WORK WE'VE ALREADY HAD DONE, I'M NOT SURE WHY, I REALIZE IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY, YOU KNOW, THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS NOT MUCH MONEY.
BUT WHY ARE WE PROCEEDING TO DO THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN? WE KNOW THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE POOL.
I KNOW MS. MARGETTS HAS VERY PARTICULAR IDEAS.
THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL IDEAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE POOL.
I JUST DON'T SEE THE NECESSITY FOR THIS, QUITE FRANKLY, AND I DON'T THINK STAFF DOES EITHER. COUNCILOR PATRIE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE STRUCTURAL WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS STRUCTURAL PEOPLE WERE ON THE ROOF AND THE TIMBERS, I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK THAT IS BEING REQUESTED BY THIS FIRM WHO IS A POOL DESIGN AND TECHNICAL EXPERT AS WELL IS REGARDING THE BASE, THE CONCRETE BASE OF THE POOL, THE LEAKAGE IN THE POOL. THIS POOL HAS, FOR YEARS, BEEN LOSING WATER, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM STRUCTURE, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, INCLUDING MORE MECHANICAL AND STUFF--FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, IF WE CAN SAVE THE LIFE OF THIS POOL TILL WE DO GET A NEW FACILITY, I JUST I DON'T WANT TO SEE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS FACILITY FOR DECADES, NOT JUST YEARS.
AND SO FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, I THINK IF WE CAN BRING ANOTHER EXPERT IN AND GET ANOTHER OPINION. IT ALSO HELPS US TO DECIDE IF IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND THREE MILLION OR FOUR MILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE THIS POOL FEASIBLE, TO KEEP IT ALIVE, THEN DO YOU BITE THE BULLET AND SAY, NO, YOU DO SPEND 12 OR 14 MILLION DOLLARS.
SO ANY EXTRA INFORMATION THAT WE CAN RECEIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR A BILL OF THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WHICH DIRECTION WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD, I THINK IS MONEY WELL SPENT. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY OTHER CONVERSATION? PERHAPS, THIS SHOULD BE ADDED AS AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT.
YOUR WORSHIP, JUST BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE TABLE, I'M GOING TO PROPOSE IT AS AN AMENDMENT THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED TO CONTACT AND WORK WITH MRS. MARGETTS AND MR. HAMEL'S FIRM TO BRING BACK A REPORT TO COUNCIL AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SECONDER FOR THE AMENDMENT.
OK, SECOND BY COUNCILOR TURNER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED IT? OKAY, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL, VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT, STARTING WITH COUNCILOR TURNER.
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED AND AMENDED SOME MORE.
[00:35:01]
COUNCILOR TURNER? YOUR WORSHIP, CAN WE HEAR THE MOTION BEFORE WE GET INTO VOTING? MS. BRAY.OK, SO THAT THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER DATED JULY 15TH, 2021 BE RECEIVED AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR THE NOHFC ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNITY STREAM GRANT FOR ALL THE WORK REQUIRED AT THE RUBEN YLI-JUUTI CENTRE AND THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED TO CONTACT AND WORK WITH MS. MARGETTS AND [INAUDIBLE] CONSULTING.
SORRY, THE NAME OF THE COMPANY, MADAM CLERK, IS RECTEC MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC..
AND TO BRING BACK A FULL REPORT, A FUTURE MEETING OF COUNCIL AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO PURCHASE A DEHUMIDIFIER REGARDLESS--ARE WE TAKING THAT OUT? REGARDLESS OF A SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN THE 2021 CAPITAL BUDGET. I THINK WE SHOULD JUST TAKE THAT LAST LINE OUT.
OK. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I CALL FOR A VOTE? ROLL CALL STARTING WITH COUNCILOR PATRIE.
SIX POINT TWO REPORT FROM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER WITH CANADA COMMUNITY
[6.2. Report from the Special Projects Manager 17 re: Canada Community Revitalization Fund application]
REVITALIZATION FUND APPLICATION AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER DATED JULY 15, 2021, BE RECEIVED AND THAT COUNCILOR DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR THE CANADA COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION FUND IN ORDER TO UPGRADE 14 ELIZABETH WALK FOR USAGE BY ART AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF, IF APPROVED FOR THE CANADA COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION FUND, TO PROCEED WITH RENOVATING THE BUILDING AT 14 ELIZABETH WALK TO SERVE AS AN ART CENTER AS OUTLINED IN THIS REPORT.CAN I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? MOVE BY COUNCILOR PATRIE SECOND BY COUNCILOR PEARCE.
MR. ANTUNES, FIRE AWAY, PLEASE.
THANK YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THE REASON FOR THIS COMING TO COUNCIL AS A SPECIAL MEETING IS DUE TO TIMING.
THE REVITALIZATION GRANT IS DUE JULY 23RD.
THIS WAS ONE THAT POSSIBLY ONE OF THE ITEMS FROM THE PREVIOUS ITEM WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO. WE WERE WAITING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET PRICING.
THE TEAM FACILITIES AT CITY FACILITIES DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN WORKING WITH A FIRM TO GET THE INFORMATION TO US.
SO THE FORMER REAL CINEMA, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS LOCATED 14 ELIZABETH WALK WAS ASSUMED BY THE CITY IN LATE 2017.
IN 2018, THE ROOF WORK WAS DONE ON THE BUILDING.
IN 2020 AN INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AND THE ROOF WAS DEEMED STRUCTURALLY SOUND IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE REPURPOSED HVAC UNITS ONTO THE UNIT OR ONTO THE BUILDING EXCUSE ME TO ENSURE PROPER HEATING AND AIR FLOW THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING WHERE WE DID HAVE SOME OF THE ITEMS FROM THE LESTER B.
PEARSON CIVIC CENTER PUT INTO FOR STORAGE.
ASIDE FROM THE NEW ROOF AND ROOFTOP UNITS, VIRTUALLY ALL PARTS OF THE BUILDING NEED A MAJOR OVERHAUL AND UPDATE AS PER THE REPORT PROVIDED [INAUDIBLE] CARRIED OUT TO BRING THE FACILITY TO PRESENT CODES AND FIRE STANDARDS AND ENSURE IT CAN BE USED SAFELY WELL INTO THE FUTURE. AS MANY OF US KNOW, THE ARTS GROUPS IN ELLIOT LAKE WHO CALLED LESTER B.
PEARSON CIVIC CENTER HOME HAVE BEEN DISPLACED SINCE THE 2019 ISSUE AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
GROUPS TO THIS POINT HAVE BEEN USING PRIVATE RESIDENCES OR JUST BEFORE DAWN MEETING ALL TOGETHER. AND THIS, OF COURSE, ISN'T JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.
OF COURSE, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT AS WELL.
ELLIOT LAKE ARTS AND CULTURE HUB HAS PROPOSED THE FORMER CIVIC CENTER SITE.
GRANT APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE BEST CASE SCENARIO SEES THE CENTER OPEN MID TO LATE 2024.
UNTIL THAT POINT, ARTS GROUPS AND CLUBS HAVE NO MUNICIPAL LOCATION WITH WHICH TO PRACTICE THEIR CRAFTS. THIS PROPOSED DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER WOULD MAKE USE OF THE FORMER REEL 2 REEL CINEMA, WHICH IS A MUNICIPAL ASSET AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
THE BUILDING IS A MUNICIPAL ASSET AND WILL FEATURE A SMALL THEATER ON ONE SIDE WITH THE STADIUM SEATING AND THEN MULTIPLE AND AMPLE WORKSPACES FOR GROUPS TO PRACTICE THEIR CRAFT . UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR, THERE IS A BRIGHT, OPEN AREA WHICH FACES ONTO ELIZABETH WALK.
THERE IS A ROOM UP THERE, SO WE WOULD WORK TO MAKE AS MUCH USE OF ALL THE SPACE WITHIN
[00:40:05]
THIS MUNICIPAL ASSET AS POSSIBLE.OF COURSE, THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELEVATOR TO TAKE PEOPLE UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR ENSURE THAT ACCESSIBILITY IS KEY AND PARAMOUNT FOR ALL OF THE ARTS MEMBERS AND FOLKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. RENOVATION OF THE FORMER THEATER HAS BEEN BUDGETED AT ONE POINT ONE FOUR MILLION DOLLARS. THIS COST INCLUDES THE NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS, WHICH IS NOTED IN THAT REPORT, AS WELL AS AN ESTIMATED ONE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AN ELEVATOR, AS MENTIONED, TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE UPPER FLOOR WORKSHOPS.
STAFF ARE SEEKING DIRECTION TO APPLY TO THE FEDNOR CANADA COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION GRANT, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE UP TO SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FUNDING.
THIS, OF COURSE, LEAVES A DELTA OF THREE HUNDRED NINETY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUND HAS A BALANCE OF THREE MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT DOLLARS IN IT THREE POINT FIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE BUILDING OF THE NEW BUILDING, LEAVING A BALANCE OF FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS, WHICH COVERS THE COST OF THIS PROJECT.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE USING WORKING FUNDS TO PULL THE MONEY FROM; IT'S COMING OUT OF THE ARTS, ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WERE REALIZED THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND INTEREST EARNED ON THAT SIDE.
THE BIG PLUS IS RENOVATION WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY TEN MONTHS, ALL GOING WELL, WHICH WOULD HAVE THIS FACILITY OPEN AND READY BEFORE THE NEW CENTER WOULD OPEN UP, THEREFORE GIVING FOLKS A PLACE TO PRACTICE THEIR ARTS AND POST-OPENING OF THE ARTS HUB, IT WOULD ALSO GIVE US ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO USE AND A SMALL THEATER WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR USAGE AND PERFORMANCES THAT WOULD NOT JUSTIFY THE USE OF THE SEVEN THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT THEATER THAT'S PROPOSED FOR THE NEW FACILITY.
ALSO, THIS WOULD ALLOW THE DOWNTOWN CORE OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE TO HAVE A REVITALIZATION THAT WOULD INTRODUCE AN UPDATING OF AN EXISTING MUNICIPAL ASSET AND ESSENTIALLY THE ASSET IS WORTH VERY LITTLE NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK INVOLVED TO BRING IT UP TO SCOPE.
SO THIS ALSO WOULD BE AN INVESTMENT INTO A MUNICIPAL ASSET, MAKING IT MORE VALUABLE GOING INTO THE FUTURE. SO HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES YOU SOME INFORMATION AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS COUNCIL MAY HAVE THEM.
COUNCILOR PATRIE. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, THROUGH YOU.
MORE COMMENT THAN QUESTION, I HAVE NO ISSUES.
WE'RE APPLYING FOR MONEY THAT IF WE DON'T APPLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT.
IF WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING, THE RESOLUTION, I LIKE THE WORDING, YOU DON'T GET THE FUNDING. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT SPENDING ANY MONEY ON THIS.
THE COMMENT THAT I WANT TO MAKE BEYOND THAT IS THE ALMOST FOUR MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUND, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF THAT. WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT IN THE NEW FACILITY.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE BUDGETED MONEY AND THE MONEY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SO FAR FOR THE REBUILD OF THE NEW FACILITY DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE FIXTURING FOR THE MUSEUM.
THE STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE IN THE CANTEEN AREA, THERE'S WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE HARD PRESSED TO FINISH THAT BUILDING AND GET IT OPEN AND OPERATIONAL WITHIN THE FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE REMAINING IN THAT FUND, SO WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO ASK TAXPAYERS FOR MORE MONEY OR APPLY FOR MORE GRANTS DOWN THE ROAD TO ACTUALLY GET THAT FACILITY OPEN, NOT JUST BUILT.
COUNCILOR FINAMORE. I GUESS MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS.
HAVE WE TALKED TO THE USER GROUPS OF THE CIVIC CENTER IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GOING INTO THIS BUILDING? I AGREE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT AND HAVING FUNDING TO DO IT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY CAN'T TEAR DOWN IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS AND WHAT'S ON EITHER SIDE OF IT.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST... BEFORE WE DECIDE WHO IT'S FOR, WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S AN INTEREST AND WHAT THE INTENTION.
IS IT THE INTENTION OF STAFF TO BRING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS BUILDING AND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THIS REPLACE PART OF THE CIVIC CENTER PERMANENTLY? OR IS THIS JUST A FIX UNTIL WE GET THE NEW ART CENTER OPEN?
[00:45:07]
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION UP FRONT AND OUT FRONT.AND MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, MR. ANTUNES? THIS IS KIND OF A STOP GAP AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE OUR BUILDING OR? THANK YOUR WORSHIP FOR YOU TO COUNCILOR FINAMORE.
I'LL TRY AND ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE ORDER THAT WENT.
I MIGHT JUMBLE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
DUE TO THE TIMING, THIS WAS MR. GAGNON HAD A GREAT IDEA AND IT WAS DIRECTION THROUGH HIM.
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'D HAVE THE IDEA OF FUNDING AND COST AVAILABLE TO US.
THE TIMELINE FOR THE REVITALIZATION WAS VERY TIGHT TO JULY TWENTY THIRD.
SO WE DID NOT HAVE AN ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH THE USER GROUPS.
I DID REACH OUT TO THE MANAGER OF RECREATION AND CULTURE FOR THEIR NEXT MEETING TO INFORM THEM OF THIS.
STAFF IS THIS MORE OF AN INFORM THAN AN ASK FOR THEIR INPUT.
THE MUNICIPALITY IS PONYING UP THE MONEY TO GIVE THEM A RESOURCE TO USE WHERE THEY HAVE NOTHING RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE TAKING A BUILDING THAT WE HAVE THAT IS LYING DORMANT.
WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF USER GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH HAVE REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL AND TO STAFF OVER THE TIME SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PRACTICE.
AND STAFF IS SUBSIDIZING RENTAL IN OTHER AREAS RIGHT NOW TO GIVE THESE ARTS GROUPS PLACES, THE ONES THAT CAN FUNCTION, GIVE THEM A PLACE TO WORK.
SO STAFF, THROUGH THE DIRECTION OF THE CAO HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO GIVE THESE USERS SOMETHING.
THE INTENTION, AS IT STANDS, IS NOT TO REPLACE THE CIVIC CENTER OR THE NEW ELLIOT LAKE ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER BEING PROPOSED.
THE DRAWINGS AND THE GRANT APPLICATION STILL HAVE THE ART WINGS THERE, BUT THIS WOULD SERVE AS AN ADDITION TO THAT.
AND IF POST THE BUILDING OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER, IF THIS SPACE BECOMES SURPLUS, THEN YOU LOOK FOR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL AS TO WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING AND WHAT TO DO WITH THE SPACE. BUT IT BECOMES A BUILDING WHERE NOW THE MUNICIPALITY HAS IT LYING DORMANT TO POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO GENERATE SOME RENTAL REVENUE IN A BUILDING THAT LIES EMPTY RIGHT NOW AND GIVES OUR ARTS GROUPS A PLACE TO PRACTICE IN THE MEANTIME.
SORRY, COUNCILOR FINAMORE, DID THAT GET ALL OF THEM? I WAS TRYING TO MENTALLY, TAKE THEM OFF AS I WENT.
SO THE INTENTION HERE IS WE'RE PROVIDING BY REHABBING THIS BUILDING, WE'RE PROVIDING A PLACE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS TO PRESENT THEIR WORK.
THAT'S THE INTENT THAT I GET FROM THE ENGINEER'S REPORT.
MR. ANTUNES? I WAS GOING TO WAIT TILL YOU FINISHED.
ACTUALLY, THE DESIGN IS ON THE ONE SIDE FOR THOSE OF US THAT DO REMEMBER THE OLD REEL 2 REEL THEATER, THERE WAS A SMALLER THEATER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THE LARGER THEATER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IF YOU'RE STANDING AT THE DOORWAYS, LOOKING IN, THE SMALLER THEATER WOULD MAINTAIN A THEATER, QUOTE UNQUOTE, AREA WHERE THERE'S THE STADIUM SEATING WITH THE STAGE AT THE FRONT. THE THEATER TO THE LEFT WOULD BE CONVERTED INTO MORE OF AN OPEN SPACE. IN THE ENGINEER'S INFORMATION, YOU'LL SEE THE MENTION OF A PARTITION WALL WHERE THERE WOULD BE AN OPENING BETWEEN THE TWO THAT WOULD ALLOW ACCESS BETWEEN THE TWO TO GIVE EVERYONE MORE SPACE TO WORK.
AND THEN UPSTAIRS THERE IS A LARGE AND I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T KNOW THE SQUARE FOOTAGE [INAUDIBLE] THAT A LARGE OPEN ROOM WHERE THEY WOULD PRACTICE SO IT WOULD SERVE AS A CENTER FOR THE DISPLACED ARTISTS FROM THE CIVIC CENTER, THE [INAUDIBLE], THE PAINTERS, EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF IF WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO PUT IN SOME OF THE KILN AND SOME OF THE GLASS FOLKS IN THERE AND THE PRESS.
SO IT WOULD BE HOUSING RIGHT NOW FOR AS MANY GROUPS AS WE CAN FIT IN THERE.
OK. SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE AN ENGINEER'S REPORT OR DRAWINGS THAT I DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE] PURSUE THAT THE...
I LIKE THE IDEA FOR THE PERIOD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS UNTIL THE NEW BUILDING IS UP AND RUNNING, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PERFORMING ARTS.
[00:50:08]
POSSIBLY A MOVIE AND OUR ARTS GROUPS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS, HAVE A PLACE TO AT LEAST STORE THEIR STUFF OR WORK ON IT.I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM THERE PERMANENTLY BY ANY MEANS.
AND I DOUBT THERE'S A PAINTER IN THE WORLD THAT WANTS A NO NATURAL LIGHT BUILDING, WHICH IS WHAT THEATER IS.
AND AS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A SMALLER THAN NORMAL SEATING CAPACITY, BUT FOR THE INTERIM, NOT BAD.
MR. ANTUNES? THANK YOUR WORSHIP COUNCILOR TURNER, AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I DID A TOUR OF THE FACILITY, UP IN THE MEZZANINE, UP IN THE BALCONY BEHIND THAT WALL THAT'S BACK THERE, THERE ACTUALLY IS A BRIGHT, OPEN AREA WITH A LOT OF WINDOWS, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. BUT FOR OUR TALENTED PAINTING ARTISTS, THERE'S A VERY SUNNY AND BRIGHT ROOM FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PAINT AS WELL.
BETTER BE SOME SERIOUS TO REINFORCING GOING ON.
[CHUCKLING] COUNCILOR PEARCE. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, NO, MR. ANTUNES ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. ANTUNES, WHEN YOU WALKED ME THROUGH IT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS QUITE BLOWN AWAY WITH SOME OF THE PICTURES.
I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS SUCH A MASSIVE ROOM WITH WINDOWS ON THE SECOND LEVEL THAT WAS A PART OF THEATER.
I THOUGHT IT WAS APARTMENTS THAT BELONGED TO SOMEONE.
AND ALSO THAT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND STAFF COMING TOGETHER WITH THIS IDEA.
I'M REALLY HOPING WE CAN GET THIS GRANT, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SO MANY OF OUR BUSINESSES IN TOWN, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN, TRYING TO REVITALIZE THEIR THEIR BUILDINGS, BEAUTIFYING THEIR BUSINESSES. AND THEN THE CITY WAS UNFORTUNATELY GIFTED, A DERELICT BUILDING THAT STAYS KIND OF LOOKING DERELICT AT THE MOMENT.
SO IT'D BE NICE IF WE COULD CATCH UP WITH THE REST OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THIS WOULD BE A BIG HELP. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE, STARTING WITH COUNCILOR TURNER.
THAT'S CARRIED. MURDERED ANOTHER PEN.
THERE'S NO NOTICE OF MOTION, NO OTHER BUSINESS, NO PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD.
BYLAWS ELEVEN POINT ONE CONFIRMATORY BYLAW, 21-61 BEING A BYLAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDING [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL AT THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD JULY 19, 2021.
CAN I HAVE A MOVER, PLEASE? MOVED BY COUNCILOR FINAMORE. SECOND BY COUNCILOR PEARCE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? SEEING NONE. ROLL CALL STARTING WITH COUNCILOR PATRIE.
MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOVED BY COUNCILOR TURNER SECOND BY COUNCILOR FINAMORE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MONDAY AFTERNOON IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.