Pool closure plan outcry puts pressure on looming budget vote

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This article was published 13/03/2024 (582 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Scott Gillingham won’t rule out altering the City of Winnipeg budget to keep open one or more of the three pools it proposes to close — but stopped short of making any promises.

Asked Wednesday about ongoing pleas from residents and some city councillors to reverse the 2024-27 budget proposal to shutter the Windsor Park and Happyland outdoor pools and Eldon Ross indoor pool, Gillingham said he is still considering that feedback.

“I’m still open to see what may be done, but we’ve got a week to go here (before the final budget vote) so conversations continue… I’m not going to predetermine what may or may not happen but we’re still in the place of discussion,” Gillingham told reporters.

The mayor said the city does need to carefully consider what value aging amenities provide and what they cost to operate.

“Sometimes, difficult decisions have to be made. We have aging infrastructure and there comes a time to close some things, decommission some things and invest in new recreation assets,” the mayor said.

The budget also includes $20 million to add 10 new spray pads over the next six years.

The mayor’s comments came as council’s property and development committee held a lengthy debate over recreation facilities.

Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), whose ward is home to the Windsor Park and Happyland pools, suggested councillors call for a multimillion-dollar commitment to complete all repairs and maintenance needed to ensure all city-owned pools and libraries remain open.

He suggested it could cost $300 million over the next 10 years for pools alone, though he lacked data to fully estimate the potential cost.

“What I’m asking for is: what is the number the public service needs in order to guarantee that there will be no more surprise demolitions of well-loved pools and libraries? I am trying to get that added to the budget, whether that’s cash or debt,” said Allard.

The councillor did not formally raise the motion, after learning his committee colleagues wouldn’t support it.

The property and development committee did approve a motion to add three full-time building maintenance staff positions, which would be dedicated to pools, arenas, libraries and community centres, pending council approval.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, committee chairwoman, said more staff are needed to protect “beloved” recreation amenities, describing the Windsor Park pool as a “critical community hub.”

Rollins also hopes to alter the pool closure plan. “For sure, I would like to see at least one of those… pools be put back in budget.”

The committee also voted to spend all permit reserve funds on the property and development department itself, in an attempt to boost staffing levels.

If council concurs, permit reserves would cover all operating costs this year, while multimillion-dollar annual transfers from the department to the city’s general revenues would be cancelled through 2027.

Rollins hopes the change can free up cash to at least double the number of permanent full-time positions added to the department in each of the next four years. The preliminary budget suggests making 38 more temporary positions permanent over that period.

“When we’re hearing from the public service, on the routine, year after year, that the amount of staffing that we are putting to permitting is just not meeting needs, there are concerns. Permitting really drives our economy,” said Rollins.

However, the mayor favours the current budget proposal.

“We do have a plan in the multi-year budget to incrementally add more permitting staff each year… I believe we need to stick with the plan,” said Gillingham.

Meanwhile, the city also confirmed its multi-year budget included operating funds for the Millennium Library’s Community Connections space in 2024, with no funds set aside for the following three years.

Gillingham said the city must continue to assess that facility space and the Manitoba government has “a role to play” in supporting it.

“When staff (connect) people to the services they need, many times… it’s provincial services… 2024 (funding) gives us the opportunity to have dialogue with the province of Manitoba, hear from our staff on what their initial data and results show and then we’ll go from there,” the mayor said.

Community Connections is intended to connect vulnerable people with support services for addictions, mental health and poverty.

Council will cast the final vote on the 2024-27 budget March 20.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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