Council approves Globe funding, green-lights return of e-scooters
City will provide $1.98 million to finish the extensive renovations at the theatre
Permission for food truck updates, e-scooters and a funding injection for Canada's only theatre-in-theround saw final approval from Regina city council this week.
Coun. Dan Leblanc (Ward 6) was absent from the meeting, held on Wednesday in Henry Baker Hall.
GLOBE THEATRE LANDS ALL $1.98 MILLION FROM CITY IN 2024
Globe Theatre's request for another $1.98 million to finish its extensive renovation project was ultimately approved Wednesday after more than a month of considering the financial implications on city coffers.
The City of Regina has already contributed $6.6 million to the project as part of a joint funding agreement through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program that involves federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions.
Attending as a delegate for the third time Wednesday, Globe executive director Jamie Boldt began by answering a question from the previous week's meeting. According to Boldt, Economic Development Regina has shared that the Globe provides an estimated $24.9 million in economic impact at just 70 per cent capacity.
Last week, the city's executive committee settled on providing the requested sum over two years, at $990,000 per year. The funds would come from the catalyst pathway project in 2024 and another source to be later identified in the 2025 budget.
Motion mover Coun. Bob Hawkins (Ward 2) accepted a friendly amendment from Mayor Sandra Masters to walk back the suggestion and give all $1.98 million from the pathway's budget this year.
The missing funds for the pathway will be rolled over to 2025's budget, to be replaced then.
Coun. Terina Nelson (Ward 7) again raised issue with the $35 ticket price for Globe Theatre performances because it is “not making it accessible to the vast majority of people who do have a disability” due to income.
She then questioned why the city has given more funds to the Globe than the YWCA, which also requested an additional $1 million for its women's centre project in the 2024 budget. Deputy city manager of financial strategy Barry Lacey answered that it was simply the nature of those respective organization's requests.
“I guess we can say that the Y doesn't have an economic spinoff ? Has that question ever been asked, about the Y and their value?” asked Nelson.
“No,” answered Masters, as chairperson. “In terms of who they serve and how they serve, it is fundamentally different.”
“Because it's not $35 to get in,” responded Nelson.
Coun. Lori Bresciani (Ward 4) asked if there could be some acknowledgment of the city for providing funding to the project. City administration and the Globe agreed to consider that.
City council voted 9-0 unanimously to approve the provision of funds this year. Coun. Landon Mohl (Ward 10) had recused himself.
SLASHED PERMIT FEES FOR FOOD TRUCKS
Recommendations to update the rules and fees attached to mobile vending permits also sailed through council in an uncontested 10-0 vote of approval via a consent agenda.
The vote means that permit fees for food truck operators will be lowered to $225 from $1,300, with a new option to pay for a parking metre bag for an additional $250.
Seven spots downtown in Pat Fiacco Plaza will now be available for trucks to park on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Vendors may also open for business on any local street with parking and a sidewalk where the posted speed limit is 50 kilometres an hour or less.
E-SCOOTERS TO BE BACK THIS SUMMER
The consent agenda also granted a permanent extension to the e-scooter pilot project tested out this past summer.
Two vendors will once again be allowed to bring in 500 rental e-scooters to Regina streets on a seasonal basis, now annually. The 2024 season permits will be issued for May 15 to Oct. 31.
Included with the approvals were suggested changes to the traffic bylaw to adjust the fine structure for improper use.
Fines for reckless operation will increase to $125 from $100.
A new $65 fine for improper use will be added, including infractions like riding on sidewalks or prohibited streets, or above the speed limit of 24 kilometres per hour.