Municipality prepares to absorb more land for Harbour Landing

I do know from the current student union president that some students do not live in safe housing.

Regina is set to eat up another morsel of the rural municipality of Sherwood as councillors voted in favour of annexing land to accommodate a Harbour Landing expansion.

Council’s executive committee approved the motion on Wednesday, sending it to a full meeting on Jan. 29 for final approval.

The lands form a triangle just north of the Trans-Canada Highway at Campbell Street. They were set aside for a possible interchange, but the highway ministry later decided against that project.

Diana Hawryluk, executive director of planning and development, said the lands form a “natural extension” to Harbour Landing, and to a proposed West Harbour Landing development. They are currently owned by Dream Development.

The city will have to compensate the RM for the annexation with a one-time payment of up to 15 times the tax revenue it would have collected.

STUDENT SAFETY

Councillors also discussed unsafe rooming houses, a matter Coun. Barbara Young said is a major concern near the university.

She broached the issue as the committee voted to drop residential rental licensing from a list of outstanding items. Officials rejected that idea in 2016. Instead, councillors asked administration to step up bylaw enforcement and educate the public about property standards.

But Young said she hasn’t seen a lot of education. She was also hoping to see the city help the university compile a list of safe properties.

“That has not happened,” she said. “I do know from the current student union president that some students do not live in safe housing.”

City manager Chris Holden told her that fire and protective services has been in talks over the issue. He promised to send Young a memo as soon as possible.

COUNCILLORS PONDER POLICE BUDGET

Council then went into private session to hear from Chief Evan Bray, who was set to address them on the 2018 police service budget.

The budget is expected to include a capital outlay for an armoured vehicle to support tactical operations.

Bray plugged that idea in a public talk on Tuesday, when he told a Regina and District Chamber of Commerce audience that the service is facing an uptick in gun violence.

“We need to find a way get in and rescue people in a swift second,” he said.