If you've been thinking the ideas dreamed up by our city officials are getting wilder and wilder, here's the latest.
Next week, Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen and her Ward 1 counterpart Sandra Hollingsworth will pitch the idea of leasing the seventh floor of the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre to a private operator for use as a multi-use event space.
Just think: you'll be able to party hearty while overlooking hectares of parking lots, knowing you're helping raise money to cut taxes, fix the roads, cure the opioid epidemic, pay for heated sidewalks or refrigerated skating loops, or to fabricate a giant hockey puck with CAO Tom Vair's smiling face on it, to be dropped on the plaza on New Year's Eve!
Here's the resolution our two councillors will submit at their June council meeting.
It will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m. Monday.
Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre seventh floor space
Mover: Councillor L. Vezeau-Allen
Seconder: Councillor S. Hollingsworth
Whereas the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre is located on our waterfront, and whereas the property hosts beautiful views of our river and surrounding naturescape; and
Whereas the property has panoramic views from its seventh floor; and
Whereas vacant space exists on the property; and
Whereas the city currently holds third-party leases with several businesses on its properties; including the Ice Breaker Bar and Grill at the John Rhodes Community Centre; and
Whereas much consultation and consideration is currently underway to improve and develop economically our most treasured asset; and
Whereas multiple celebrations and events have been held in the existing spaces at the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre; and
Whereas the potential to have a multi-use event space available to public enterprise has not been examined;
Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to undertake an inspection of the seventh-floor space and bring a report to council regarding a possible business plan to create a commercial space within the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre.