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From Brodie Street to city hall to North Street, the city’s temporary south-side bus terminal will be in transit over the coming months after Monday’s city council meeting.

In order to make way for the new provincial courthouse, the Brodie Street Bus Terminal must be vacated by April 1. Although it had the lowest score of four potential temporary sites, due to security and access issues, North Street was chosen after public opposition surfaced against both the original Donald Street and city hall locations.

City hall will serve as a temporary bus terminal until a site between Violet Street, North Street and Miles Street can be upgraded to become the south side terminal for up to three years. City hall will have three buses on Brodie Street and May Street and one on Donald Street.

Transportation and works manager Darrell Matson said the $138,000-upgrade to North Street should be ready by July or earlier depending on the weather. An additional $135,000 will be required for security.

"We can make it work. We know that there will be some minor inconveniences for the riders but it will alleviate most of the issues," Matson said.

After 11 p.m., council heard from business owners, residents and transit workers in the area around city hall. Most deputants were concerned that idling buses would compromise air quality in the area and would increase security issues.

Owner of Blake’s Funeral Chapel, Joe Salini has lived and worked across from city hall for 56 years. He said using city hall as a terminal for even one day is the wrong choice. Citing health and safety concerns, Salini added that he’s worried one of his employees or clients could be hit by a car during a funeral procession due to the decreased visibility from the three proposed buses on May Street.

Also, increased noise from the idling buses could also become a problem for the funeral home.

"Noise would be highly disrespectful for people in a state of mourning," Salini said.

Like other people making deputations Monday, Salini also said security would be an issue. Due to the security issues around the south side, Salini said he’s already had to install security cameras and an alarm at his funeral home.

"We’re not here to belittle anyone using transit in any way," Salini said. "But we know there are issues."

Amalgamated Transit Union Charlie Brown president, who represents the city’s bus drivers, said any other site but city hall might as well be at the bottom of the Kam River in terms of logistics and routing for his members. Brown, who sat on the steering committee to determine a site and chose city hall, said city hall offers the best security, facilities for bus drivers and works best for routes.

Because the city’s transit system operates on an interlining method between Water Street and Brodie Street terminals, drivers operate several routes meaning every minute counts. Brown said the temporary site has to be close to the south downtown core.

"Interlining means that one bus does several routes for the entire city," Brown. "So to put a terminal on Simpson…that’ll throw the whole system off."

With rider confidence in mind, Brown said the recommendation to move the temporary site to North Street, which scored a zero for security issues on the original site selection, would scare off everyone from "little old ladies to young professionals" wanting to ride the bus.

"That’s (North Street) not a good idea. It looks like a derelict bombed out area," Brown said. "It’s a recipe for disaster… it’s not suitable and a complete waste of tax payers money."

Coun. Rob Tuchenhagen said between public opposition and other concerns, council had to support the North Street location.

"I don’t think anyone likes it but it is a compromise after taking everything into consideration," Tuchenhagen.

But Coun. Andrew Foulds said North Street is an "unsafe area" according to city studies and moving the terminal to the area would be doing a disservice to the riders of Thunder Bay Transit.

"I’m not convinced that security is going to be better in the Violet Street area," Foulds said. "I’d like us to consider the riders of the transit system as well."

Coun. Mark Bentz, who supported the city hall site, said the city was backed into corner. He said it’s disappointing that misinformation and speculation due to tight timelines led to poor consultation about temporary site choices. Bentz said it’s ironic that no one has spoken with residents and businesses surrounding the North Street location.

"Right now what’s in front of us is a Hail Mary. We’re just trying to get it off our plate and that’s not the way you make good decisions," Bentz said.

Also Monday, a regional food bank is getting a new name along with its new location. The Regional Food Distribution Association, which took possession of 570 Syndicate Ave. on March 19, is calling its new home The Paterson Family Food Centre. In a speech peppered with thanks, RFDA president Larry Brigham said the Paterson Foundation started the search for a new regional food bank with $200,000.

Although showing his excitement, Brigham said he’s painfully aware that the food bank is a "band-aid solution" to underlying issues of poverty in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. In the past two years, RFDA has added six new agencies using the food bank and individual use was up 36 per cent in 2009 over the previous year.

"We have people who were donors to food banks now coming and asking for help," Brigham said.

Since the council meeting lasted past 2 a.m., other matters such as a public consultation strategy for a new mutli-purpose arena were deferred until next week.