City Hall in brief: Residential housing plans, studying a living wage for staff and the seasonal patio program

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This article was published 22/03/2024 (591 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Council approves plan to spend housing money

The City of Winnipeg will devote up to $27.5 million in federal housing funding on grants for new multi-family residential projects and resources to run the program.

Council cast a final vote Thursday to spend federal housing accelerator funds this year, which will include $25 million for a capital grant program to support new multi-family housing projects that include affordable housing.

The initial focus is on the downtown.

The remaining $2.5 million would fund staff and consultants to run the program.

CentreVenture gets new housing mandate

The CentreVenture Development Corp. is has been tasked with delivering residential housing downtown.

On Thursday, council approved a plan to direct the corporation, which was created in 1999 to lead downtown renewal, to focus primarily on helping the city meet housing construction targets and use $122.4 million from the federal housing accelerator fund.

The corporation could also be tasked with helping the city administer federally funded housing initiatives, such as by providing a downtown, non-profit, and/or affordable housing concierge.

City to study living wage

The City of Winnipeg will study the cost of implementing a living wage for its staff, without promising to adopt it.

On Thursday, council voted to review an estimated living wage in Winnipeg, how many city workers would receive a raise to reach that rate and how much the change would cost.

A report will also estimate “cascading costs” associated with higher wages that could be sought for workers in municipal jobs whose pay currently matches, or is just above, the living wage level, as well as how existing city health and pension benefits might offset the wage rate needed for municipal workers.

The report is due in about four months.

Council waives tipping fees for Bay revamp

Landfill tipping fees will be waived to support the Southern Chiefs’ Organization’s redevelopment of the downtown Hudson’s Bay Co. building.

Council has approved a call that will waive an estimated $257,000 in fees to dispose of material, including hazardous substances and possible asbestos.

The Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project includes housing units, assisted living for Indigenous elders, restaurants and cultural spaces.

Expedited seasonal patio program to be offered every year

A pandemic program that allowed restaurants to set up seasonal patios within days instead of weeks will be offered every year.

City council has approved a proposal to make the program, which had been temporary, available to businesses from now on.

Most temporary patios are approved through the program within two business days, instead of a previous wait that could last weeks or months, a city report said.

Permanent patios that don’t require a new registration each year and those with certain structures, such as overhead canopies, are not eligible.

Public washroom incentives rejected

The City of Winnipeg will not create incentives for organizations to open their washrooms to the public.

Council has cast a final vote against the proposal after members of its community services committee estimated the incentive would offer about $40,000 to potential participants, an amount they deemed far too low to cover the cost of safely offering the service.

Committee members noted the city’s downtown public washroom at 715 Main St. costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate each year, with social services and safety initiatives included.

Permit requirement removed for some projects

The city has removed the requirement to get a development permit to start 25 specific types of projects, including small home improvements such as installing a hot tub, patio or garden shed.

The change is meant to cut red tape and make it quicker and cheaper to complete such projects. It is now in effect due to bylaws city council approved on Thursday.

Most of the projects still require a separate building permit and must still meet set conditions, such as size and setbacks, to be built without a development permit.

— Joyanne Pursaga