Sorry Saultites!
The people who run the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre don't want us partying in their seventh-floor penthouse.
Last summer, Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen and her Ward 1 counterpart Sandra Hollingsworth suggested leasing the top floor of our city hall to a private operator for use as a multi-use event space.
"Staff do not recommend pursuing the conversion of this space to a multi-use event space or other commercial use," Carl Rumiel, the city's director of engineering, says in a report prepared for next week's city council meeting.
"Accessibility of the space would be an issue for the general public as there is no elevator access and no washroom facilities currently on the seventh floor, which would be required should the space be used as a commercial or rental space," Rumiel says.
Asked to comment on how the space is currently used by their staff, civic centre managers reported:
- Used as a lunchroom to get away from the office
- A suggested place for staff when they need space to disconnect for mental health breaks
- Summer students regularly use the space
- Used for staff group functions
- Used as a quiet space for private phone calls
- Could be used as a prayer space
"Staff feels that the seventh floor is currently well-used by city staff on a daily basis," Rumiel said.
"Staff reviewed this resolution with the city's accessibility coordinator and confirmed that the seventh floor's accessibility is not to a standard that could include the general public.
"Currently, the civic centre's main elevator only goes to the sixth floor. Extending the elevator to the seventh floor would not be feasible as the project would essentially require an additional floor above, which would be cost-prohibitive.
"Alternative lift devices, such as chair lifts in the stairwell, are not allowed under the Ontario Building Code for use in a building such as the civic centre.
"Therefore, the only way to access the seventh floor is to take the elevator to the sixth floor and then take the stairs up to the seventh.
"From an accessibility standpoint, the corporation would be in a very difficult position if the seventh-floor space were made public because the space would not be available to everyone.
"The city is expected to be a leader in the community in accessibility, and if this space can’t be made accessible, it is recommended that the space not be made public or rented out," Rumiel said.
Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.