Council examines public reaction to proposed multiplex

While he thinks people are generally in favour of a new arena for the city, one councillor says he would have liked to hear from more of the public.

The city received its early stage consultation final report Monday night, which took responses from 460 people over a two-month period to gauge public reaction to a new mutliplex arena. City corporate communications manager Karen Lewis told council that the results are not scientific but rather about input.

"This consultation was about engagement, involvement and input," Lewis said.

Eighty-three per cent of people asked made supportive comments about a new arena either explicitly or implicitly through suggestions such as what sort of features a new facility should have, Lewis said.

But Coun. Robert Tuchenhagen said that it is hard to find reasonable conclusions when some of the findings, such as a student focus group with participants between the ages of 17-23 years old, were based on 24 people.

"I would’ve liked to have seen some larger sample sizing," Tuchenhagen said. "Statistically when more people are asked questions the responses become much more significant."

Nearly 20 per cent of those in favour had concerns about affordability and sustainability of the proposed $60 million project. Tuchenhagen said he shares those concerns. While the idea is for the city to kick in one-third of capital costs through Renew Thunder Bay, the city needs to consider other costs especially when the country is experiencing uncertain financial times he said.

"As we’ve seen with the Community Auditorium or the Canada Games Complex the capital is just one part of it. It’s the operating costs that the community has to be able to handle as well," Tuchenhagen said.

City manager Tim Commisso said the project may not even happen and that the next phase feasibility study, which council previously approved, would take a look at things like financing and site selection.

Tuchenhagen said the project should be put to a plebiscite in the 2014 municipal election so that everyone can have a say.

"I think it would be fair to the community. It’s something of a very large magnitude that I think everybody should have an opportunity to vote on," Tuchenhagen said.

Also Monday, council unanimously passed a resolution asking the province to reconsider the Far North Act. The act, which goes to third reading this week, would be detrimental to First Nations, municipalities and business council said.

"This will have a serious impact on the economic development of our north," said Coun. Rebecca Johnson.

The motion asks the Ontario government to draft an act that will strike a balance between economic opportunity and land protection.