Proposed multi-use indoor facility discussed at Thunder Bay city hall

An early look at the proposed multi-use indoor turf facility at ChapplesPark was presented before city council on Monday night by consultant firm Stantec Architecture.

The proposed facility will include an indoor artificial turf playing surface that will accommodate a range of sports including soccer, baseball, ultimate frisbee, football, cricket and lacrosse. Tennis was not included on the list. Plans for the facility include holding up to 800 spectators.

The project would also see the facility be connected to city transit, an expansion of the two-way road to the facility and the creation of 150 parking spaces.

The city is seeking public comment on the proposed indoor turf facility on the city's Get Involved page until Aug.3. City council is expected to debate the future of the facility on Aug.10.

According to proposed timelines the facility, estimated at a total cost of $42-million dollars to the city, would be ready to open for use by the winter of 2022.

Phase 3 plan to reopen city facilities and programs approved

One indoor ice rink will be reopened this summer, after Coun.Cody Fraser put forth a resolution asking city officials to open one "summer ice" facility "as soon as possible."

City officials had previously recommended keeping indoor ice rinks closed for the summer, citing a limited demand for ice time and financial implications to reopening. The cost and timeline to reopen was not known at the time of the council's decision.

Other facilities set to reopen by early August are the Grace Remus city-run childcare centre, Churchill Pool, four community centres and all outdoor sports fields.

The city is also looking to reopen private home childcare centres, the Kinsmen Youth Centre and for the youth inclusion program to resume small group activities and in-person visits with their clients.

Two facilities that will stay closed for the summer include the splash pad at Prince Arthur's Landing and the Baggage Building Arts Centre.

The Canada Games Complex, 55 Plus Centre, Fort William and Port Arthur stadiums, West Arthur community centre, Chippewa and Trowbridge campgrounds, and outdoor pools are among the facilities that were previously approved by council to remain closed during the summer.

Motion requesting information on potential loitering bylaw defeated

After a debate that lasted more than an hour, council ultimately defeated a resolution that would see city administration bring forward information about a possible loitering bylaw in the city of Thunder Bay.

The discussion began with an impassioned speech by Coun. Aldo Ruberto, in which he cited a series of concerns mostlyfrom individuals and businesses in south side downtown area about "drug dealers" spending time in the area. At the outset, Ruberto said the intention of the request for information about a possible loitering bylaw was not to target already-marginalized populations, but to provide city police with an additional tool to improve safety in the city.

However, several councillors expressed their concern about the implications of a "loitering" bylaw, increasing the possible criminalization of vulnerable populations. There was a consensus among councillors who spoke on the issue that more support is needed to address longstanding concerns about homelessness, addictions and mental health.

One possible solution presented by Coun. Brian Hamilton, the McKellar ward representative, was to solicit guidance from the Thunder Bay Police Services Board and the police chief about alternative mechanisms or tools to support their work to improve safety in the city.

With concerns mounting about the framing of the request for further information as a "loitering" bylawas opposed to options to improve safety in the citythe resolution was defeated with the understanding that a new resolution would be coming before council at a meeting in the near future.

Other updates from Monday's meeting

Several other resolutions were passed by council members during the meeting.

A resolution was passed recommending administration to draft and present a report on the short- and long-term options to improve the Boulevard Lake area, including financial implications and environmental considerations, while it is currently drained.

City administration was asked to review the existing bylaws regulating the sale and setting-off of fireworks in the city, and report back with information and options to minimize disturbances caused by fireworks. The options that may be explored in the information report are increasing public education about existing firework regulations, reducing the number of days fireworks are able to be set off, and enforcing a decibel level for the sale of fireworks.

Council voted in favour of providing $50,000 dollars to the joint application with the Black Sheep Mountain Bike Club regarding the further development of infrastructure as part of the Trowbridge Forest Trail Master Plan.

The Donald Street and May Street intersection will see a rainbow crosswalk painted during the summer of this year, along with already-approved rainbow and transgender crosswalks to be painted in the Bay and Algoma neighbourhood.