Loading...
1994-11-14_Minutes 84-928 COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 14,1994 At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of Saint John, on Monday, the fourteenth day of November, A.D. 1994, at 7:00 o'clock p.m. present Shirley McAlary, Deputy Mayor Councillors Chase, Coughlan, Gould, Knibb, Rogers, Trites and A. Vincent - and - Messrs. 1. Totten, City Manager; F. Rodgers, City Solicitor; D. Wilson, Commissioner of Finance; C. Robichaud, Commissioner of Municipal Operations; J. C. MacKinnon, Commissioner of Environment and Infrastructure Services; P. Groody, Commissioner of Human Resources; S. Bedford, Commissioner of Development Services; S. Armstrong, Director of Engineering; W. Butler, Director of Water and Sewerage Services; B. Steeves, Building Inspector; G. Tait, Fire Chief; Sergeant K. Brown, Police Department; Mrs. M. Munford, Common Clerk; and Ms. C. Joyce, Assistant Common Clerk. 1. MeetinQ Called To Order - OpeninQ Prayer Deputy Mayor McAlary called the meeting to order, and Reverend David Nicholson of Douglas Avenue Christian Church offered the opening prayer. 2. Approval of Minutes On motion of Councillor Knibb Seconded by Councillor Coughlan RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting of Common Council, held on November 7, 1994, be approved. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 4. Mavor's Remarks Deputy Mayor McAlary extended condolences to the family of the late Mr. Ralph Black, who passed away on this date, and noted that Mr. Black was a former member of Common Council; and expressed sympathy to the family of the late Mr. John Cameron, a City employee, who passed away on November 12. Deputy Mayor McAlary congratulated the persons involved in attracting Skate Canada '95 to Harbour Station; and noted the November 12 performance at the Imperial Theatre by the Chinese Cultural Association, and the forthcoming Annual Santa Claus Parade on November 19. On motion of Councillor A. Vincent Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Saint John extend a message of sympathy to the family of the late Edgar L. Sproul, who passed away on November 12. Question being taken, the motion was carried. * Added Item On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Chase RESOLVED that item 18, being Local 84-929 COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 14,1994 691 's request for the placement of heating devices, which was considered in Committee of the Whole earlier this date, be added to the agenda of this meeting for consideration as item 6A. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 5. Committee of the Whole Report Read report of the Committee of the Whole (as follows) To the COMMON COUNCIL of the City of Saint John The Committee of the Whole reports Your Committee reports that it sat on Monday, November 7, 1994, when there were present Mayor Higgins and Councillors Chase, Coughlan, Gould, Knibb, McAlary, Rogers, Trites and M. Vincent, and your Committee submits the following recommendation, namely:- 1. That as recommended by the City Manager, (1) a freeze be implemented on any changes to the City Market fees until June 30, 1995; (2) the fees charged under By-Law C-115 for 1994 be extended to June 30, 1995; (3) the City Solicitor be directed to make the necessary changes to By-Law C-115 to extend the fees in Schedule A for the year 1994 to June 30, 1995; and (4) the City Manager be requested to undertake a review of the management structures, operations and rent of the City Market and report back to Council prior to June 30, 1995. November 14, 1994, Saint John, N.B. Respectfully submitted, (sgd.) Thomas J. Higgins, C h air man. 5(1). Rent & Operations City Market On motion of Councillor Knibb Seconded by Councillor Chase RESOLVED that the above report be received and filed and the recommendation therein be adopted. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 6. Master Plumbers Examining Board Applications For Master Plumber Licenses On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Chase RESOLVED that as recommended by the Master Plumbers Examining Board, the applications of Mr. Douglas Johnston of 8 Burnside Crescent, Mr. William D. Hall of 226 McNamara Drive, and Mr. John Byrne of 297 Princess Street, for a Master Plumber License be approved and Master Plumbers Licenses be issued to them upon payment of the prescribed fee. Question being taken, the motion was carried. *6A. Local 691's Request For Placement Of HeatinQ Devices On motion of Councillor Knibb Seconded by Councillor Chase RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, in recognition of the fact that Local 691 of the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada has provided insurance to protect the interest of 84-930 COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 14,1994 the municipality, permission be granted to allow the heating devices to remain on the street right-of-way at their current location at the entrances to the Irving Oil Refinery, until April 15, 1995. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 7. Jim Stewart - Marco Polo Project On motion of Councillor Knibb Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that the letter from Mr. Jim Stewart, composer of "The Marco Polo Suite" album, in support of the Marco Polo Project -- be received and filed with appreciation and a copy be forwarded to the appropriate government officials. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 8. Saint John Construction Association Inc. Nomination To Environment Committee On motion of Councillor Rogers Seconded by Councillor Chase RESOLVED that the letter from Saint John Construction Association Inc. nominating Bob Davidson, to replace Gary Hamilton, as its representative on the Environment Committee -- be referred to the Nominating Committee. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 3. Municipal Golf 2000 Rockwood Park Golf Course Members of the Municipal Golf 2000 Committee were present at the meeting with regard to the proposals for the private operation of the Rockwood Park Golf Course and Aquatic Driving Range. Mr. Cyril Oram, Committee Chairman, advised that the Committee's purpose at this time, having reviewed the proposals put forward to Council on October 31 by Gerry Connolly and Contemporary Leisure Canada Inc., was to present its position that the City should continue to operate the Rockwood Park Golf Course, and to express its concern that neither proposal is in the best interest of the City of Saint John. Mr. Oram explained that the Committee, while maintaining that the Gerry Connolly plan is well-intended, sees major risks for the City in that, although Mr. Connolly commits himself to paying all future capital expenditures and undertaking major capital spending on the club house, roads and driving range, these expenditures are based on operations reaching a peak of 25,000 rounds of golf a year, a figure almost within reach at present, and, in the Committee's view, Mr. Connolly has anticipated greater revenues from the Golf Course, the Aquatic Driving Range and cross-country skiing than can be produced, and also that there is a concern about a possible fee charged to cross-country skiers for the use of public lands. Mr. Oram summarized Contemporary Leisure Canada Inc.'s proposal to the effect that it requires a subsidy from the City, offers to pay $10,000 a year for 10 years in exchange for the use of all the buildings, machinery and equipment of a multi-million golf course and, over the 10 years, indicates that it will put in $145,000 in capital improvements, for a total expenditure of $245,000; and made the observation that, as the City in the first 5 years would be subsidizing the operation for a total of $242,000, the Course operators would be putting up a mere $3,000 of their own money and, in addition, the City would be responsible for all major repairs and any new equipment over the 1 O-year period, as well as a $50,000 a year management fee, and that the plan does not get rid of the deficit, and makes projections based on establishing an executive-style golf course which, in the Committee's opinion, is not realistic for the City of Saint John, as there already are three fine golf courses, at Riverside, Westfield and Hampton, which attract many Saint John golfers and have a lot to offer. Mr. Oram asked what the taxpayers would get from either of the two proposals in that Gerry Connolly proposes to obtain 84-931 COMMON COUNCIL NOVEMBER 14,1994 control of the City land for 30 years for a dollar a year, while Contemporary Leisure Canada Inc. seeks a 1 O-year lease with the City providing a subsidy of $242,000 plus capital costs and major repairs. Mr. Oram expressed the opinion that the major flaw in both the proposals is that they want to eliminate or curtail memberships, while the Committee maintains that there should be unlimited memberships because they are the life blood of a good golf course, and that Council should not measure the effects of the Golf Course in dollars and cents but look at the social benefits the Course produces. Mr. Oram suggested that, with aggressive promotion of the facility, the City can increase playing rounds of golf in that, in 1994, in spite of lacklustre weather, the number of rounds played rose from 19,000 in 1993 to almost 23,000, a rise of 21 per cent; and also that, while the proposals indicated that 24,000 or 25,000 rounds would be the maximum in any year and that green fee players are the type needed rather than membership golfers, this season the Committee members alone accounted for at least 6,000 rounds of golf and, if these golfers were eliminated, Rockwood would have to attract many new players just to get back where it is today. Mr. Oram also advised that the Committee maintains that the solution lies in part in a larger membership base resulting in more revenue, along with support for facilities such as a canteen, lunch counter, pro shop, club repairs, professional instruction and, most important, a volunteer base, and that, as members willingly stood aside for the 20 tournaments at Rockwood during the 1994 season, membership certainly does not hurt tournament play. Mr. Oram put forth the alternative that the City should continue running the Rockwood Park Golf Course and, in doing so, should operate it through a public commission whose numbers would represent Common Council, the Parks Department, the users of the Golf Course and the general community, with the commission's task to be to run the Course as an efficient public facility with the aim of making it a self- supporting and even profit-making enterprise. Mr. Oram suggested two models for Council to consider, one being the City of Red Deer, Alberta which represents an instance of a public commission successfully running the golf course, another being the City of Brandon, Manitoba, where the City Parks Department took over a golf course in bankruptcy 20 years ago and turned it into a profitable business; and requested Council's due attention to this presentation. Mr. Oram responded to Council queries and advised his intent to provide a copy of his brief to the Common Clerk, as well as a copy of the Red Deer, Alberta plan. Deputy Mayor McAlary thanked the Committee for its presentation and interest, and suggested that the presentation should be referred to the City Manager, as was the case with the two proposals, and that the Committee would be kept up to date on what is happening in this regard; and it was noted that the City's Outside Workers, Local No. 18, C.U.P.E., will be making a presentation to Council at its November 21 meeting with respect to the Rockwood Park Golf Club and Aquatic Driving Range. On motion of Councillor Knibb Seconded by Councillor Coughlan RESOLVED that this meeting be adjourned and that Council meet in Committee of the Whole. Question being taken, the motion was carried. Common Clerk