THUNDER BAY -- City council heard some concerns, were asked to make some considerations and even received some rare kudos Wednesday night.
The public's last chance to be heard before city council ratifies its budget next month saw nine people, including some familiar faces and former candidates, step up to the microphone.
Concerned that council will consider closing the Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit after Coun. Rebecca Johnson raised issues about costs and declining revenues in an earlier budget meeting, the Friends of Chippewa Park reminded the city that since 2002, the organization has raised more than $6 million and put it into the park.
"That's not a bad deal," Treasurer Bill Lafontaine said.
The wildlife exhibit has seen a decline in revenue that seems to coincide with removing the rollercoaster at the park and the closure of the James Street Sing Bridge. Even still, a recent decision to open the zoo during the winter saw more than 1,000 people last weekend despite frigid temperatures.
People also need to know that most of the animals there were either born in captivity or saved by the MNR as orphans.
"These animals and birds do not know any other existence,” Lafontaine said. “None can exist in the wild.”
Lafontaine asked that council at least wait to make a decision until a new parks master plan came out and figure out what all of Chippewa Park should look like in the future.
Dean Stamler asked the city to reconsider $200,000 it took out of the budget for multi-use trails. It's not a lot of money but will help the connect the new generation of bike lanes with the older trail system across the city.
Around 50 workers from local jails marched to city hall to ask the city to bring a message to the province that wage freezes mean public service employees can't afford municipal tax increases.
"We can’t give anymore,” OPSEU Local 737 president Mike Lundy said. “We don’t have the money.”
Poverty Free Thunder Bay's Terri-Lynne Carter, a former candidate, thanked the city for making decisions that help people with low-incomes, such as a proposal to increase bus transfers to two hours and raise tax and water rebates, despite a tough budget season.
Coun. Paul Pugh said credit to city council is rare during budget season.
"It's unusual and welcome," Pugh said.
Jon Powers told councillors they were unwilling to share in the sacrifice that the general public will have to make if the proposed 4.64 per cent tax levy increase is approved.
"This is utterly unacceptable," he said.
Powers suggested that every member of council take a 10 per cent pay cut to help.
"Then you can ask your constituents to do the same."
Council will ratify the budget March 2.
