Plan to repair PMC floor in 2019 finalized
A new plan to repair the floor of the Memorial Centre in the summer of 2019 was finalized by council, on Monday.
There was no public delegation on the matter, and no debate, either – council simply approved the plan with no discussion.
The repairs at the Mem Centre are so extensive that the arena will be closed, for the summer - and it will displace the Lakers lacrosse team, for the season.
But the city’s other choice was to close the arena for the summer of 2018 – and the Lakers didn’t want that.
In 2018, there’s a chance the Mann Cup – the national lacrosse championship – could be held in the Memorial Centre, and the Lakers don’t want to miss that chance.
Meanwhile, city staff says the floor at the Mem Centre is in dire shape and could fail soon – perhaps in the middle of hockey season.
So the city has a plan: buy the equipment to erect a temporary outdoor ice surface, just in case the floor fails in the winter of 2018 or 2019.
The city can erect that temporary ice surface quickly – within two weeks – and it will last for a whole hockey season for the Peterborough Petes.
Also on council’s agenda, on Monday:
Vacancy rebate Program: Council approved a plan to ask citizens what they think of phasing out a program that gives a 30 per cent tax rebate on vacant commercial and industrial properties.
For years, the province insisted that municipalities offer rebates to property-owners.
But now the provincial government will allow cities to cancel the program, and city staff is suggesting a phase-out over three years (from 2018 to 2020).
Council will ask the public and the business community what they think, early in summer (the city has until July 1 to let the provincial government know what it plans to do);
Community bus: Council approved a plan to buy a new low-floor bus to start a new transit service for seniors and people with disabilities.
The new Community Bus program is expected to start running in late fall.
The idea is to have a bus travelling from retirement homes to places such as the mall or medical centres.
The bus will cost $147,000. The low-floor bus seats for 10 to 15 passengers, plus four spots for wheelchairs.
Calendar parking for Marina Blvd.: Council voted to use the calendar parking system on both sides of Marina Blvd. from Royal Dr. to the west limit of Northcrest Arena. Calendar parking typically prohibits parking on one side of the street from the 1st to the 15th of the month (and on the other side from the 16th to the end of the month). Residents had asked council to consider it. They say parking on both sides of Marina Blvd. narrows the road quite a bit;
Calendar parking for Dickson St.: Council voted to use the calendar parking system on Dickson St. from Murray St. to McDonnel St. Motorists often park on both sides of this residential street, just southeast of the county courthouse, whenever court is busy.