Around City Hall

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This article was published 31/05/2023 (1039 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City could clean up lingering debris

THE City of Winnipeg will explore a way to crack down on debris-filled lots.

On Tuesday, city council cast a final vote to order a staff report on having the city clean debris from demolition sites and charge lot owners for the work on their property tax bills.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy has lobbied for the city to take action on such lots about three months after demolition debris is not removed. Gilroy said sites filled with broken remnants of buildings aren’t safe and set a negative tone for neighbouring homes and businesses.

The report is expected in three months.

Council approves strategic priorities

CITY council has officially approved its strategic priorities action plan, which is set to guide budget decisions.

On Tuesday, council voted in favour of the priorities as is, rejecting a call from advocates to pause new spending to widen Route 90 (Kenaston Boulevard) and extend Chief Peguis Trail, until a cost-benefit analysis and environmental assessment are completed for each project.

The pair of projects is expected to cost a combined $1 billion, which the Transportation and Land Use Coalition argues would likely be better spent elsewhere. The coalition fears the projects could thwart efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, Mayor Scott Gillingham has said the projects are needed to spark economic development and repair city infrastructure.

Transitional housing plan moves closer

A plan to create housing and job opportunities for Indigenous women, girls and LGBTTQ+ people at 48 Maple St. is moving forward.

On Tuesday, council approved a call to sell the land to Clan Mother Earth Enterprises Inc. for $1, following a notice period to end the current lease.

That will allow Clan Mothers Healing Village to pursue its plan to provide homes and social enterprise jobs for vulnerable people, who may also be dealing with addictions and/or targeted for exploitation and trafficking.

City sticks to plan for sewage plant

WHILE some believe a narrowed approach to reduce the amount of pollution that leaves Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant could save hundreds of millions of dollars and reach pollution reduction targets sooner, city council has refrained from pursuing the change.

A motion called for a provincial task force, which was created to expedite the $1.8-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade, to review whether to remove the requirement to drastically reduce the amount of nitrogen in effluent leaving the plant.

The province has required the city to greatly reduce both algae-promoting nitrogen and phosphorous so far.

However, elected officials at Tuesday’s city council meeting noted city staff have warned there may not be as many savings as expected from the change, in part because it could create new operating costs. Staff warned it could affect efforts to remove ammonia, which is toxic to fish.

Council opted not to act on the motion.

Council approves supportive housing

A plan to add affordable, supportive housing for people with mental health issues has been approved.

On Tuesday, council voted in favour of subdivision and zoning changes to support the construction of two four-storey buildings with a combined 51 units at 90 Wellington Cres. and 586/588 River Ave. The site is set to include 20 supportive, affordable homes.

Cambridge Health will provide non-medical, community home care support at the site for adults aged 50 to 65 with complex behaviours/ mental health conditions, including a kitchen for tenants of the supportive units.