THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay's city council has set the stage for a generational transformation of the north end downtown, approving a $13.2 million contract to rebuild core stretches of Red River Road and Court Street.
Council found time to address a number of other consequential issues in a meeting lasting over four hours Monday evening, including a call to improve safety on public transit, a request for roadside trails in Neebing, and reconsidering a contentious vote on the public library.
Council approves $13M downtown rebuild
Council gave the green light to an ambitious rebuild of the city's north core, voting unanimously to award a $13.2 million contract for the two-year project to Nadin Contracting.
The company will carry out a facade-to-facade reconstruction of core stretches of Red River Road and Court Street, replacing century-old sewer and water lines and transforming the streetscape in a move the city hopes will invigorate the area.
The reconstruction includes lockstone-style pavers, a curbless “flexible” street that can be closed for markets and events, and more space for pedestrians, greenery, seating, and public art.
Transit union calls for safety review
The city will launch a review of safety issues aboard Thunder Bay Transit after the union representing bus drivers issued a stark demand for more support on Monday.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 leaders said verbal and physical assaults have become a daily reality for their members, calling for a review of driver safety, as well as specific investments including security at the city hall terminal and a second nighttime controller.
Council voted unanimously to order a safety review by October.
Council backtracks on library vote, but keeps extra seat
City council reversed course on a contentious vote from last week rejecting governance changes requested by the Thunder Bay Public Library.
In a re-vote, council granted the library’s ask to eliminate dedicated seats on its board for the Lakehead District School Board and Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.
Library leaders argued the the inclusion of seats for those boards, but not French-language or Indigenous learning institutions, amounts to “structural racism.”
The revisited decision puts the TBPL in step with other Ontario library systems, and was agreed to by the school board representatives themselves in a vote last year, the library noted.
Last week, council had denied the request and, in a surprise move, voted to increase its oversight with a second councillor on the nine-member TBPL board. Council held firm on that decision and is expected to appoint a second representative later this month.
Push to explore Neebing trail network blocked
Council rejected a call from Neebing Coun. Greg Johnsen for a report on the possibility of implementing a trail system in his ward.
Johnsen’s colleagues said they understood the request, especially given the presence of the NorWesterview School on Mountain Road, which has no sidewalks.
However, most agreed it would set an unacceptable precedent to build the infrastructure in an area designated for rural settlement, unless area residents voted to increase their tax levy to the city, which accounts for a more limited set of municipal services.
Indoor turf report pushed back
A review of a Soccer Northwest Ontario proposal for an indoor turf facility next to the Canada Games Complex and Community Auditorium won't be delivered until the fall.
A staff memo to council in February had referenced a late May completion date for a final review.
Staff said Monday the delay was in part a result of council’s direction to rule out the possibility of environmental contamination before moving forward with other steps, like a traffic study and design review.
Staff also cited availability of contractor Stantec in explaining the timeline, adding that core sampling of soil had begun.
City seeks Ontario Winter Games infrastructure funding
The Thunder Bay-hosted 2024 Ontario Winter Games could leave a lasting, if relatively modest, legacy at a handful of city-owned recreation facilities.
The city is pursuing close to $1 million in funding from the NOHFC for improvements associated with hosting the Games.
That includes improved WiFi at the Fort William Gardens and Delaney Arena, accessibility improvements for sledge hockey at the Gardens, and new PA systems at the Gardens and Canada Games Complex.
The Complex would also see a new 3 metre diving platform and video score clock.
The NOHFC recently invited the city to submit a Stage 2 application, staff reported Monday.
The city is set to host the event for the first time in 50 years next February, welcoming an estimated 3,000 or more athletes.
Push to delay work from home program fails
The city will make its work-from-home program, adopted during the pandemic, permanent after a last-minute push to delay its implementation for further study failed on Monday.
Coun. Rajni Agarwal renewed a previous call for a report with more information on issues including WSIB coverage before permanently approving the policy.
That call was defeated, with other councillors arguing staff had already presented sufficient rationale to adopt a program that’s been widely embraced in other workplaces.
Coun. Andrew Foulds took Agarwal to task after she suggested working from home was a “cushy” option not available to all staff.
Agarwal made the comment while questioning whether the city could reduce pay for staff in the work-from-home program, saying it would compensate for lower commuting and other costs and avoid granting privileges to a small group of workers.
Sewer and watermain contract
Council awarded a $2.9 million contract for replacement of sewers and watermains on Cameron and Brock streets, in the city’s south end, to Menei Brothers Contracting.
The company was the lowest of five bidders for the work, coming in just below the city’s pre-tender estimate.
Some of the infrastructure being replaced is over 100 years old, city staff reported.
