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Promises to keep: an update on unresolved civic issues

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 10/22/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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The duck pond at Assiniboine Park. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ARCHIVES)

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Plans for the Public Safety Building, above, Assiniboine Park Conservancy and water park are moving ahead. (WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

Want to know when Winnipeg's police will find a new home? Ever wonder whatever happened to Winnipeg's water park? Curious about the fate of Assiniboine Park?

The answers to these questions will soon be revealed, Mayor Sam Katz told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the status of unresolved civic issues.

Here's what's happening with the cop shop, water park and Assiniboine Park plan:

1. New police HQ

Back in March, after 13 months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it was talking to Canada Post about purchasing the Crown corporation's Graham Avenue building and moving into the 10-storey structure.

The police had been looking for new digs since late 2007, when city officials learned it would cost tens of millions to fix the limestone cladding at the 44-year-old Public Safety Building on Princess Street.

Canada Post tentatively agreed to sell its downtown building to the city at full market value, pending the results of further negotiations. The plan on the table would see the postal service retain regional staff as well as its main floor retail outlet at the downtown building, while the police would move several offices - including evidence rooms, the stolen-auto unit, crime analysis, community relations, criminal investigations and a police museum - into the Graham Avenue space.

What's happened lately?

Not much. After another month of talks, the police were supposed to take four more months to ensure the Canada Post building suited their needs and report to city council before the end of the summer.

What happens next?

A decision on the purchase should be made in November, Katz said. "I think the department has completed its due diligence. We will be seeing a report very shortly," the mayor said.

2. A Winnipeg water park

In 2005, Katz struck a deal with the Liberals in Ottawa to divert $43 million from a cancelled rapid-transit plan into a fund for recreation facilities. In 2006, $9 million was eventually devoted to upgrades at Kildonan Park.

But in January 2008, after city officials decided those upgrades could not be completed for $9 million, Katz decided to divert $7 million toward a plan to build a water park somewhere else. After a search for private partners, the grant was awarded to the Canad Inns hotel chain in June 2008 - and then withdrawn in April 2009, after the chain failed to move forward with its plans to build a $43.6-million facility at Polo Park.

That led the city to issue a new expression-of-interest document to would-be water park builders in June.

What's happened lately?

The window of opportunity for water park builders ended over the summer.

What happens next?

"I know it has closed. I know there has been a response," Katz said of the search. "I believe that once again there is a report coming forward within the next 30 days."

3. Assiniboine Park

In 2008, city council approved a plan to give the Assiniboine Park Conservancy the responsibility for running Winnipeg's largest green space and upgrading its decaying infrastructure.

The non-profit agency submitted a business plan and announced a $180-million plan to upgrade park facilities earlier this year. But it has yet to work out an operating agreement with the city of Winnipeg. In March, city council's executive policy committee gave the conservancy a six-month extension to work out that deal.

What's happened lately?

On Wednesday, EPC voted to give the conservancy another four-month extension.

What happens next?

"There are a few things that have to be worked out," said Katz, referring to legal agreements. "I hope to see something done in the beginning of the new year."

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 22, 2009 B2

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