Jeremy Silver (lower left), the chair of the City Centre Development Agency, told city council that the agency needs a new mandate and a redefined relationship with City Hall, during a public hearing at council's meeting on Monday.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The seemingly age-old question about what to do to improve the City Centre Development Agency will have to wait another two weeks for an answer.
But, the parties involved in an hour-long public hearing and council debate on Monday aren’t sure about what will come forward at that time.
The annual issue of passing the coming year’s budget for the downtown development group featured two fiery speeches from CCDA board chairs past and present.
Council discussion ranged about how to best to reinvigorate the group that is tasked with promoting the downtown core, and legal options for increased autonomy sought for by CCDA chair Jeremy Silver and council’s CCDA board rep Coun. Kris Samraj.
That, however, was tabled by 6-3 vote to Feb. 2, though both men weren’t sure what will be brought forward at that time.
Samraj objected to the tabling motion, stating that a budget is simply a budget, and he hoped the deletion of a city grant to the agency would begin discussion among members about improving the organization.
“The CCDA hasn’t done anything wrong and the city is still committed to downtown development,” he said early on, later concluding, “I think it’s a structural problem and this budget leaves it open for (stakeholders to act).
Silver agreed.
“We never objected to how the budget was done,” said Silver, who previously said the replacement $100,000 grant with a $55,000 streetscape maintenance contract caused major debate among his members.
“Hopefully, they’ve really taken notice and there’s a chain reaction, (and some serious discussion) about changes.”
Chief among his requests, he told council, was the removal of the council position on the CCDA board, a free vote among stakeholders in board elections, and a more clearly defined relationship with City Hall.
The city’s legal department will examine those issues (the CCDA is a Business Improvement Area, as defined by the provincial Municipal Government Act).
“I’d like to see proposals come from the CCDA, not have it be something what we want,” said Coun. Julie Friesen, in support of ending council debate and tabling the budget.
In the debate, Coun. Jamie McIntosh, a previous CCDA council rep. to the CCDA board, said he personally feels the issues are too ingrained and dissolution followed by a reformation driven by stakeholders was the best option.
Retired CCDA chair Les Schwab said if it is dissolved “you’ll never get business owners to stand it back up.”
“It needs to be toast or revamped … but this budget sets the board up for failure. They’re being hung out to dry, and they’ll look ridiculous. If it passes, I’d advise them to resign.”
Several members of the gallery were CCDA stakeholders, those business operators who pay its levy. Longtime critic Shila Sharps said she had strong support to force a dissolution vote, triggered by a petition comprising at least 25 per cent of the CCDA’s near 200 members.
The budget controversy revolves around a $100,000 item in the budget that is technically a grant from the city, though both sides say about half the cash is used to pay for hanging baskets and other street work that the city once performed.
Another $25,000 was for a leasehold grant program to stakeholders, which Silver said has become redundant. Another $20,000 was used to cover the annual repayment of the $200,000 loan in 2009 to purchase the Monarch Theatre. The final $60,000 of that interest-free loan would be forgiven by the city, according to the proposed budget.
Coun. Robert Dumanowski, said he would support a gradual reduction in any budget support, and moved the tabling motion.
“We’ve thrown a grenade to the CCDA and asked them to make it work,” he said.
“I’d rather the catalyst for change be their desire, not some quick change in finances.”
Coun. Phil Turnbull said he wouldn’t support city money to a particular area when other areas need support also.
Coun. Jim Turner suggested a more voluntary association might be the answer.
Other councillors said various wranglings and complaints about the group over the years have sullied some good work.
“Downtown is the best it’s been in 10 years; do they get some credit for that,” asked Mayor Ted Clugston.
“I think we have a dysfunctional mandate right now,” said Coun. Darren Hirsch.
