Japanese city wants to be friends with Regina

A Japanese city has reached out to Regina in the spirit of friendship, calling on Mayor Michael Fougere to accept the gesture.

City council will consider a Friendship City Agreement with Fujioka, a city of 67,000 on the sprawling outer edges of metropolitan Tokyo at its meeting today.

The step is somewhat less involved than formal twinning or a sister city relationship, but the agreement is similarly meant to foster cooperation and goodwill between the two cities.

Fujioka and Regina already have a long-standing relationship. An education partnership between Regina’s school divisions and the Japanese city began in 1991.

Since then, students from both cities have participated in an exchange program, with Fujioka teens getting their first taste of bannock and teepee raising during visits to Regina.

Mayor Masahiro Arai of Fujioka has already accepted the terms of the agreement. Council will vote on whether to grant Fougere the authority to sign on Regina’s behalf. If all goes according to plan, Arai and his staff would “welcome the opportunity to visit Regina in August for a formal signing ceremony.”

SUMMER PLAN FOR KIDS FROM HERITAGE ON AGENDA

Councillors will also take a second look at how to keep Heritage neighbourhood kids active during their first summer without Maple Leaf Pool.

The four-point plan already passed at Executive Committee this month come to full council today for final approval. It includes a Playescapes summer program at Thomson Community School, recreation programming for teens and free transit access to Wascana Pool, which will also be opened up to the whole city free of charge.

Maple Leaf Pool was saved after an emotional budget meeting last year. But the pool has reached the end of its life and must be replaced, with work set to last two swimming seasons.

Administration had initially committed to free admission to Wascana Pool for Heritage neighbourhood residents, but faced concerns that the plan wouldn’t be fair to others in the city.

In response, administration now plans to provide free admission to everyone. That is expected to cost $60,000 on top of the $60,000 cost of the other recreation changes.

Council will also vote on a slight change to the Heritage transit route. If passed, a leg of Route 15 that currently takes 15th Avenue will be rerouted to College Avenue for easier access to Wascana Pool.

MOTOCROSS ENTHUSIASTS SEEK PERMISSION TO CAMP

Members of the Regina and Area Motocross Club are asking council to allow racers to spend the night camping on land they lease from the city.

Along with the Regina Auto Racing Club and South Saskatchewan Kart Club, the motocross enthusiasts operate on city-owned land in the Kings Park area northeast of the city.

The land is actually in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, but the terms of the clubs’ leases are now the only thing forbidding overnight camping during competitions.

Club president Lyndon Kozakewich wrote to council that it’s impractical for competitors to stay in hotels the night before given the early start time for races.

He noted the uncertainty around camping has led to a cancelled national event.

“I am not trying to be dramatic but this is something that literally could put an end to our sport in our area,” Kozakewich wrote.

Administration is recommending a change to the leases with all three clubs to allow overnight camping during recreational events only.

Council will be asked to approve the recommendation today.