Why we can't have nice things - (like a new transit headquarters or a splash pad)

Sorry, you people of Sault Ste. Marie.

You can't afford a $575,000 splash pad.

And you can't afford a new Sault Transit headquarters.

That's the message Sault Ste. Marie City Council will hear Monday night in two reports from city staff.

The city has been looking at relocating its bus barn and administrative offices at 111 Huron St. to the public works compound at 128 Sackville Rd., in a move that's not expected to change existing transit routes.

Tulloch Engineering studied five possible options:

1. upgrade both the Huron Street and Sackville Road facilities at their existing locations
2. construct a standalone transit facility on Sackville
3. construct a fully integrated facility by moving transit operations to an expanded $35.8 million public works building on Sackville
4. build a new fully integrated $59.3 million facility on Sackville
5. do nothing, if the environmental impact is determined to be too great

Option 2 was rejected because a standalone transit facility on Sackville wouldn't allow sharing of common functions with public works and would increase the time and distance that buses run without generating revenue.

Options 3 and 4 were rejected because of cost. "The project team felt that the price tag associated with the two options for an integrated facility on Sackville Road was not realistically capable of being funded by the city at this point despite a potential contribution by funders," Susan Hamilton-Beach, the city's director of public works, says in a report to Mayor Provenzano and councillors.

Option 5, doing nothing, was not considered after it was determined that significant environmental impacts were unlikely at both the Huron and Sackville sites.

That left only Option 1 – upgrading both the Huron and Sackville facilities at their existing locations.

"The addition/renovation at each of the separate facilities is therefore the recommended option with the goal of pursuing as much funding as possible through potential contributions by funders," Hamilton-Beach said.

Tulloch Engineering says about $16 million will be needed to expand transit operations on Huron Street and cover the repairs and maintenance needed there and on Sackville Road.

Sorry kids. We can't afford your splash pad

Councillors will also learn on Monday that only $58,000 has been raised for the city's Canada 150 legacy project – a proposed splash pad in Bellevue Park.

"If the current project estimate of $575,000 is maintained and no additional funding support is obtained, funding for the splash pad project will require an additional $515,000 for the entire project," says Shelley Schell, the city's treasurer and chief financial officer, in a report to City Council.

Even if sufficient funding materialized, construction could not begin until spring of 2018, jeopardizing its status as a Canada 150 project.

Schell scoured her ledgers for other sources of cash to complete the job.

"Very few city properties have been declared surplus. Property sale proceeds are currently directed to the property purchase reserve fund, the use of which is restricted to property purchases required by the city unless otherwise directed by council," Schell says.

The city's parks and recreation reserve has no uncommitted funds that are not restricted for specific uses, Schell reports.

She did find an uncommitted balance of about $300,000 in something called the "five per cent subdivider reserve fund."

That wouldn't be enough to complete the splash pad.

"Use of this reserve fund would prioritise the splash pad over any other potential projects for 2018 if the fund was entirely dedicated to the project," Schell said.

"The city's cash flow is constrained at this time, as reflected in a separate staff report that will be brought forward at the next scheduled council meeting. In light of this report, staff's advice is to postpone any non-mandatory capital spending until the cash flow issue is resolved."

Rotary might consider larger contribution 

Of the $58,000 raised so far for the splash pad, $25,000 is from the city and $20,000 from the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie.

"We fully support this project. We would like this splash pad to take place," Rotary president Melinda Mills told SooToday.

In April, Rotary polled its members, asking whether they supported a $200,000 contribution to a splash pad.

The club subsequently decided to contribute one-tenth that amount – $20,000 – toward the city project in Bellevue Park.

The Downtown Association wants the splash pad built closer to the core in Clergue Park instead of Bellevue.

"We feel like we weren't consulted in regards to where it was," said Josh Ingram, the association's general manager. "Being a partner with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, we'd just like to have an opportunity to talk about the benefits of the splash pad being downtown," Ingram said.

Mills says that view is shared by many Rotarians.

And the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie is looking for a major project to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2018.

"I know that a great deal of our members really support the downtown location, with regards to having additional activities, venues, especially for the underprivileged children in our community," Mills tells SooToday.

"We would like to see more done in the downtown area," she said.

During discussions of the splash pad location earlier this year by the city's parks and recreation advisory committee, Rotarian Robert Carricato pushed hard to have Clergue Park considered.

Rotary has already provided generous support to Bellevue Park.

Last year, it gave $80,000 for inclusive play equipment for an interactive sensory and adventure playground there.

"Maybe the city will entertain approaching, if not our organization, other organizations, again with another proposal," she said.

Would Rotary be willing to consider a larger contribution if the splash pad were in Clergue Park?

"It's too early. I can't answer that at this point. It would be something that they would have to resubmit to the board. It's something that we, I'm certain, would be interested in or able to discuss at that point," Mills told SooToday.

"I would definitely say if the city is interested in re-presenting a proposal to us, or re-opening the opportunity, I'm certain our members would be willing to hear them out."

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.