Requests for city funding piled up at a community budget session, held Monday night at Tom Davies Square.
Some proposals were modest. Others were a shock to councillors attending, including a $700,000 top-up request from the Salvation Army on their base city budget.
Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan, who chaired the 28 requests from citizens and groups, said there were a wide variety of requests.
“I was very impressed with citizens who had various little projects they would like to put in place without a lot of money attached,” said Callaghan, adding many involved co-operation with city staff.
One such request, for $15,000 seed money, was from Jeff Perry, one of the owners of the Lakehouse Dining Lounge, located in Science North. The money would be for the construction and maintenance costs by the city for eight sheets of ice for 64 pond hockey teams in late February 2009. The pond hockey festival would be a weekend event, and could become as popular as other similar events in North Bay, Timmins and the Maritimes, he noted.
“We will make this an annual winter event. Already we have discussed the idea with Science North, Laurentian University, the Sudbury Minor Hockey League and Coun. Frances Caldarelli. Money raised could go to a special needs organization. It could eventually become as big as the Dragon Boat Festival in the summer, said Perry.
“This is a great idea. It could help to resurrect a winter festival for the city, like the former Snowflake Festival,” said Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau.
Another modest request for $50,000 was from Nathalie Gara-Boivin of the city's Bicycle Advisory Panel.
“We are a volunteer panel of seven people, who have organized bicycle events that have attracted up to 75 participants,” said Gara-Boivin.
The group piloted the Rack N' Roll program for 703 buses in the Valley where cyclists can place up to two bikes on the front of the bus at no extra charge on trips into the city.
“Considering it is Car Free Day today in over 40 countries, we hope this funding — primarily for outreach and education — will make our city more bicycle-friendly, “ she said.
The funds would also provide more bicycle infrastructure for the city — more bike racks, signage to alert drivers to share the road with cyclists and more marketing to encourage residents to pursue a healthier form of transportation.
The shocks came when Major David Carey from the Salvation Army asked for a $700,000 top-up from their base budget.
“We do get a per diem rate from the province for our clients but it doesn't match our costs. They are increasing from higher heating costs for our old building, and higher food costs. In addition, as of January 2007, we have taken responsibility for homeless females and their families. They now number 9,600 bed night visits as opposed to the 7,602 bed nights for single men,” said Carey.
“This means we have more than doubled our client base.”
The Salvation Army took over this additional client burden because no one else wanted to, said Carey.
“Another community agency looked after that and, for whatever reason, they found they were unable to continue. The city found themselves in a situation where they had no one to administer this emergency accommodations program. They are put up in local hotels as we have no accommodation for them. We provide case management for them and feed them as well.”
Callaghan was sympathetic.
“This council has always come up with the money for the good work the Salvation Army does. We have tried to help them best we could and they are starting to hit a wall now, as was described here tonight. Their facilities are not getting newer. They are being asked to provide more and more services for more clients,” said Callaghan.
Council will be asked as to how we can support them, he said.
Callaghan said the whole budget process would be tougher because of the large number of expensive projects coming forward.
“These projects — Maley Drive, the Levack Water Plant project, the Chelmsford alternative level of care project, the Lively waste management plant project — all involve large amounts of money,” said Callaghan.
“It is going to be very challenging because there is still the drive forward to do the legacy projects totaling $165 million. Some sort of decision will have to be made on those. The drivers of those projects want those projects dealt with during this budget year. They will not stand a chance at the next budget in 2010.”
Callaghan advised citizens with ideas to be funded to call 3-1-1, go online to the city's website or call their city councillor.
Council will deal with capital budget items in October. In mid-November the council will get budget books, listing the projects proposed. That will be followed by a number of city council budget meetings. By mid-December the budget should be agreed upon, said Callaghan.
