THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s city council followed a marathon, rules of order-shattering meeting last week with an only slightly shorter agenda spanning multiple major municipal issues Monday.
Council approved a new EMS master plan, rejected red light cameras, authorized an expansion of Eye on the Street surveillance, invited private sector proposals for an indoor turf facility, and more.
Superior North EMS plan accepted
Councillors voted unanimously to accept a 2021-2030 master plan for its paramedic service, Superior North EMS, which also serves communities across the Thunder Bay District.
That came over objections from municipal and First Nation leaders in the Greenstone and North Shore areas, who slammed the plan over a lack of consultation, and recommendations to close three paramedic bases there.
Councillors told staff they expected better results from follow-up consultation sessions planned over the coming months, which will inform future votes on specific elements like station closures.
The plan looks to divert calls to hospital in the face of increasing demand in the city of Thunder Bay itself, shifting resources to community paramedicine and alternative destinations – but the changes depend on provincial support.
Council rejects red light cameras
Thunder Bay won’t be joining the dozen communities participating in Ontario’s red light camera program, despite a strong recommendation from city staff.
Councillors balked at approving an initiative expected to levy millions in fines on local residents, as well as an $875,000 yearly price tag.
Those objections overcame findings by administration that the program curbed fatal collisions and would inject millions into municipal coffers.
City invites indoor turf proposals from private sector
The city will invite private companies and other outside organizations to propose their own visions for how to build and operate an indoor turf sports facility under a newly proposed Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
The new process was approved Monday as council searches for a path forward after narrowly rejecting a previously approved plan for a facility at Chapples Park in March.
Expansions planned to waterfront trail
City staff presented a plan Monday to move forward on a vision for a unified waterfront trail.
Work in 2021 includes a section on Mission Island from Island Drive to Mission Marsh, a section on Island Drive from the floodway to Main Street, and a section north of Prince Arthur’s Landing to Richardson’s Terminal.
In the longer term, however, the city expects challenges in connecting some portions of a trail envisioned to eventually run continuously along the waterfront from Fisherman’s Park in the north to Mission Marsh in the south.
Employment equity report
A report on equity within the city’s workforce found many equity groups appear to be well-represented, while responses to a voluntary workplace survey indicated Indigenous people are slightly underrepresented among city staff, particularly in leadership roles.
Fireworks bylaw
Council unanimously passed sweeping new restrictions on the use of fireworks, reducing the number of permitted occasions and increasing penalties.
The changes won’t take effect until a new bylaw is approved by council later this year.
Eye on the Street Program Renewal
Council approved a major expansion of the Eye on the Street surveillance program operated by the city and utilized by Thunder Bay police.
Aging camera equipment will be overhauled while the number of locations will jump from 13 to 20, and could expand further to 40 sites identified by the city and police
