THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce says the community needs more information about the city's plan for the proposed Chapples multi-use indoor turf facility.
In a letter to city council made public Tuesday, the chamber says the city's request for feedback from residents about the design concept for the project falls short of what's needed to ensure transparency and fiscal accountability.
Residents were recently invited to view an online presentation by Stantec, the city's consultant, and submit comments through the city's website.
In the letter, the chamber says "the engagement platform does not provide any information relating to the final projected capital cost, operating costs, revenue and useage projections, or a business plan."
It adds "we are concerned with the absence of a publicly available financial and business plan to ensure that the community is fully informed about this significant and costly project."
Preliminary cost estimates are close to $30 million, but the city hopes to get contributions from senior governments.
The chamber's letter lists a series of questions it says need to be answered publicly before council proceeds to the next step.
The questions include:
- What is the business plan?
- What is the financial breakdown of operating revenues and expenses?
- What is the net operating impact to the City of Thunder Bay?
- What are the schedules that inform user revenue projections regarding daily usage?
- What information has been provided by the CEDC and Tourism Thunder Bay on the economic impact projections of this facility for our community?
- Have any private partners such as local sporting groups committed to capital contributions? If so, are there any agreements relating to priority scheduling for funding partners?
- Does the building design include loading doors of at least 14’ that allow trade show hosting capacity?
- Does the plan include purchase of a solid floor to cover the turf for trade show events?
- Does the building design include air conditioning?
- What type of kitchen facilities are included for concession and catering?
- Have the senior levels of government committed/approved funding contributions? If not and if there is a funding shortfall, what is the plan to finance this project?
- What will the property tax implications be?
- Will this facility compete with the private sector turf facility that is currently in progress?
Noting that the city has hosted virtual townhall sessions in recent months concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber says it should also arrange for a virtual townhall, with adequate notice and promotion, to have these and other questions answered in a public forum.
In an interview, chamber president Charla Robinson said the community needs to have "a fullsome understanding of the project and what it involves, in order to provide their feedback."
The chamber, she said, "has always been very careful in encouraging council around spending, and also in ensuring there is a strong business case for any new spending."
Robinson added that the same kind of conversation that's been held during the recent review of city services should also take place with regard to a new facility such as the multi-use complex, "to ensure the whole community understands the impact on the community, the cost and the benefits."
"This isn't just about 'Do we like the way it looks?', she said.
