October 16, 2023

Confirmation of Agenda

Council confirmed the agenda for the October 16, 2023 meeting, approving all items listed plus any additional business that was added.

WITH RESPECT to the October 16, 2023 City Council, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.

Council approved moving forward with building an urban skate plaza at Dease Park, subject to budget availability and external funding. The project will include detailed design work with input from heritage and public art committees, plus improvements to pedestrian crossing and street design on Dease Street.

WITH RESPECT to Report 269-2023- Infrastructure, Development & Operations-Engineering & Operations, we recommend that Administration move forward with advancing the Dease Park Urban Skate Plaza Concept Plan in the future subject to budget considerations and external funding opportunities that may arise in partnership with the Thunder Bay Skateboard Coalition

• the approved Concept Plan including with this Report be used as the basis for detailed design and construction drawings to be completed by a qualified design consultant specializing in skate park design
• the Parks & Open Spaces Section work with the Recreation & Culture Division, Heritage Advisory Committee and the Public Art Committee to integrate Public Art and Heritage Commemoration into the final construction drawings
• the Parks & Open Spaces Section work with the Engineering Division to proceed to detail design and implementation of a pedestrian crossing on Dease Street in the short term and the one block of Dease Street as a flexible street in the long term
• any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. Committee of the Whole - September 25, 2023 – Amendment - Former Dease Pool Site – Dease Park Redevelopment

Council removed Item 2021-107-CS (Former Dease Pool Site - Detailed Design and Concept Plan) from the outstanding items list, meaning this project is no longer being tracked as pending business.

THAT the following be added after paragraph 4; "AND THAT Item 2021-107-CS Former Dease Pool Site - Detailed Design and Concept Plan be removed from the outstanding list;"

Council approved moving forward with building an urban skate plaza at Dease Park, subject to budget and external funding. The concept plan will guide detailed design work, which will incorporate public art and heritage elements, and includes plans for improved pedestrian crossing and street improvements on Dease Street.

WITH RESPECT to Report 269-2023- Infrastructure, Development & Operations-Engineering & Operations, we recommend that Administration move forward with advancing the Dease Park Urban Skate Plaza Concept Plan in the future subject to budget considerations and external funding opportunities that may arise in partnership with the Thunder Bay Skateboard Coalition

• the approved Concept Plan including with this Report be used as the basis for detailed design and construction drawings to be completed by a qualified design consultant specializing in skate park design
• the Parks & Open Spaces Section work with the Recreation & Culture Division, Heritage Advisory Committee and the Public Art Committee to integrate Public Art and Heritage Commemoration into the final construction drawings
• the Parks & Open Spaces Section work with the Engineering Division to proceed to detail design and implementation of a pedestrian crossing on Dease Street in the short term and the one block of Dease Street as a flexible street in the long term
• Item 2021-107-CS Former Dease Pool Site - Detailed Design and Concept Plan be removed from the outstanding list
• any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.

Council approved closing 9 outdoor ice rinks starting December 2023 and downgrading 3 others to unstaffed boarded rinks. Staff will report back on cost savings and usage data to determine if more closures are needed.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kasey Etreni, dated September 12, 2023, we recommend that the following nine (9) rinks be closed effective December 2023: · Woodside Parkette · Anton Parkette · Pickton Parkette · John Kusznier Park · Third & High · Wilson Park · Franklin Park · Confederation Drive · Holt Parkette AND THAT the following 3 rinks be downgraded to boarded unsupervised: Waddington Park, Charry Park, Oliver Road Park

• Administration report back on or before December 4, 2023 with the 2024 cost savings associated to be included in the 2024 Operating Budget
• Administration provide a usage statistics report of the 2023/24 season to see if further rink closures should be explored in June 2024
• Administration review the outdoor rink program to review potential changes and report back on or before September 16, 2024
• any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification. Amendment - Committee of the Whole - September 25, 2023 - Amended - Outdoor Rinks - Request for Closures

Council voted to keep John Kushnier Park's outdoor rink operating instead of closing it, based on a recommendation from Councillor Kasey Etreni.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kasey Etreni, dated September 12, 2023, we recommend that John Kushnier Park be removed from the outdoor rink closure list.

Council approved closing 8 outdoor ice rinks effective December 2023 and downgrading 3 others to unsupervised boarded rinks. Administration will report back on cost savings and usage data to determine if more closures are needed.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kasey Etreni, dated September 12, 2023, we recommend that the following eight (8) rinks be closed effective December 2023:  Woodside Parkette  Anton Parkette  Pickton Parkette  Third & High  Wilson Park  Franklin Park  Confederation Drive  Holt Parkette AND THAT the following 3 rinks be downgraded to boarded unsupervised: Waddington Park, Charry Park, Oliver Road Park

• Administration report back on or before December 4, 2023 with the 2024 cost savings associated to be included in the 2024 Operating Budget
• Administration provide a usage statistics report of the 2023/24 season to see if further rink closures should be explored in June 2024
• Administration review the outdoor rink program to review potential changes and report back on or before September 16, 2024
• any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification.