Committee Approves Study Some See As Gateway To City Building Parkade
A proposed $11,000 study of parking around the 0 block of River Street West and the Moose Jaw Events Centre proved to be a two headed coin on Monday afternoon.
On one side of the coin four Council members it was just a benign study that was prudent city planning.
But on the other side of the coin three Council members saw the proposed study as unnecessary and possibly the start of a slippery slope that would end up seeing taxpayers footing the bill for a multimillion dollar parkade.
Which side is correct though likely won’t be known until after the upcoming fall election.
The Request
“We feel it prudent to look at the requirements downtown. Look at the requirements and see what we might need,” Jim Dixon manager of economic development told Council.
Dixon said the proposed Hilton Hotel on the 0 block of River Street had sufficient parking - one parking spot per room - as required to join the Hilton chain.
“I want to stress the developer has enough parking he doesn’t need and asking for anymore,” he said.
But the study would be useful “in anticipation of further development (as) there would be a lot of parking required.”
Jim Dixon manager of economic development
Development which might require a sizeable increase in available parking and potentially the City building a parkade to satisfy the demand.
“This assessment will look at the need. Whether a parkade makes sense and where the parkade might be and where the demand might filter to,” Dixon said.
“Ultimately it would identify a if a parkade was necessary and b where it might go.”
Council Concerns
Councillor Doug Blanc said he supported the hotel development but not spending $11,000 of taxpayer’s funds in what is a tough budget year on the study.
“I have a little trouble spending $11,000 on that.”
He also said that the City should be well aware of the number of parking spots within a three to five block radius of the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Councillor Blanc also pointed to the study potentially being out of date by the time any further development in the area occurred.
“I don’t know why we have to spend more money now to look into the future,” he said, adding by time there was more development “the research would be obsolete.”
Councillor Dawn Luhning - who proposed a receive and file motion - was adamantly opposed to the parking study pointing out in the discussion it was not a benign and objective look but all about building a parkade.
She said it was just an attempt to complete one of the goals the proponents of a then downtown Multiplex (today’s Events Centre) had of having the City foot the bill for a parkade.
“If anybody around this table is thinking this is just a parking assessment…all those years ago when the group insisted we build the Multiplex downtown insisted we build a parkade…I can see that is where this is going?” Councillor Luhning said.
“But I fully believe this has more to do with the City regurgitating the idea of building a parkade downtown,” she said.
Councillor Luhning said if a parkade was built it should be done by developers and not the City.
“They’re trying to see if the City will bite to build a parkade at the Events Centre and anything else going on downtown,” Councillor Luhning said.
Councillor Luhning said she agreed with Councillor Blanc that it was a tough budget where things were cut out and the parking study was not necessary.
Councillor Crystal Froese argued against the proposed parking study for financial and fiscal reasons.
“Only in dire straits should we dip into investments after our budget,” Councillor Froese said.
She stressed the City was well aware of the number of available parking spots in the downtown due to the available parking app and planning.
“It’s information we currently have,” Councillor Froese said.
She went on to state that there was no need to hold a study now due to the lack of development.
“As more of that gets developed we can look at that down the line.”
Council Supporters
Councillor Kim Robinson said the discussion really was missing the reasons to conduct the parking study.
“I think we are kind of missing the mark on this,” Councillor Robinson saying the parking study would be a valuable resource for Administration.
He also said the cost was really minimal to the City and the invested reserves.
“I think the impact on the medium term investment is minimal.”
At the present time the medium term investments are not performing well.
Mayor Clive Tolley was a strong proponent of the proposed study.
The Mayor pointed out the hotel developers had not requested or pushed for the proposed study as they had sufficient parking spaces required as a Hilton hotel.
The parking study was about what parking development would be needed for future development on the 0 block River Street West.
“What we are trying to understand is what we might have,” he said, adding “we want to know what we have for parking in the area.”
Mayor Tolley termed the $11,000 cost of the parking study was not expensive given the future development.
“I feel it is a bargain price to where we are going…we need to know.”
The Mayor would go on to state “this is a small amount to find out more.”
About spending parking reserve funds on the study Mayor Tolley called it “a wise use of parking reserve money.”
“I think it’s a wise use of the City’s money to do some planning.”
“I think this is a fundamental step to take in development of River Street West,”
The Mayor’s sentiments towards planning were echoed by Councillor Heather Eby.
“I’m certainly not in favour of building a parkade. But I’m certainly in favour of proper planning,” Councillor Eby said.
She did admit presently parking is “not terrible” or an issue at the present time around the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
“I think it is an investment of economic development of the future.”
Councillor Jamey Logan said he supported spending the $11,000 on the parking study because “this request did not come from the developer. It came from the City of Moose Jaw.”
Councillor Luhning’s motion to receive and file the request - and thereby kill it was defeated 4 against and three in favour.
Councillor’s Froese, Blanc and Luhning voted in favour to receive and file the request.
Mayor Tolley and Councillors Logan, Robinson and Eby were opposed.
A second vote to approve the request saw Mayor Tolley and Councillors Logan, Robinson and Eby vote in favour.
Councillor’s Froese, Blanc and Luhning were opposed.
The study will go ahead pending final approval at a future Council meeting.