City council isn't taking time to maximize potential: Paulsen

Tempers flared Monday during a contentious debate on River Landing's cultural centre that saw the proposed plan approved in principle, but only after a heated exchange over the speaking order of councillors.

The issue arose after Mayor Don Atchison told Coun. Tiffany Paulsen, who was not ready to speak on the issue, that she would not have the opportunity as he was the last to speak.

"We have decided many issues that are a lot smaller than this where councillors have repeated opportunity to speak," she said. "This is one of the biggest issues facing this council today and suddenly we're restricting discussion. How can we possibly do that?"

Paulsen called it an "an abusive process that the chair would limit the right of everybody to speak in this council and then preserve . . . himself the last place to speak."

The Joni Mitchell, Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) and Tourism Saskatoon visitor centres will join Persephone Theatre in River Landing's $31.3-million destination complex or cultural centre.

City council approved, in principle, the draft footprint, uses and design of the centre that would sit on the site of the former Gathercole building, at the corner of 19th Street and Third Avenue. One million dollars reserved for a theatre group by council will be directed to Persephone Theatre based on several conditions.

Council will direct administration to pursue capital funding from the federal and provincial governments and the private sector.

Former councillor Patricia Roe said the sizzle that would make the community gather at the site is missing.

"Many of us are asking where is the wow factor," she said, adding if the city wants to make the facility a major tourist attraction, it needs to go back to the drawing board.

She also said the aboriginal community was not included in the design.

It was a sentiment echoed by Coun. Owen Fortosky.

"I don't see a lot here that represents first cultures," he said.

Fortosky said the city should be focusing on the children who are staying in Saskatoon, looking to the children's museum as a good attraction.

Paulsen and Coun. Elaine Hnatyshyn both expressed concern over the proposal, with Paulsen indicating she felt council was rushing into the project.

"From my perspective all we're doing is taking tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and shuffling a bunch of government funded agencies that already exist in Saskatoon in one building who will in turn demand more tax dollars to operate this centre and we're calling it development," she said. "It doesn't make any sense to me."

Paulsen said she felt the city didn't take the time to maximize the potential of the site.

"In a year from now, when you look at the (area) surrounding that site, the riverbank park will be completed, the hotel spa will be at least 50 per cent built, Persephone theatre will also be well on its way," she said in an interview. "It puts a whole new dynamic on that site as to who may be interested in being there, and I don't think the decision should be made right now, in particular when we are talking about $31 million of taxpayer money," she said.

Hnatyshyn said the recommendations were premature, lacking the background information she felt was necessary in order to make a decision on the issue.

"There is nothing in there with respect to operating costs, and I know that the city has from its other existing facilities some idea of what the square footage costs for operation on a building is," she said in an interview. "They must have some ability to generate some preliminary numbers because the high costs . . . not just the capital construction costs, (also) the ongoing operating costs in the years to come."

The city's architect and independent cost analyst has estimated the capital cost of the core building, which would house the three cultural centres, at $21.8 million -- $15.5 million for the building and $6.3 million for underground parking. Persephone Theatre's complex would cost an estimated $9.5 million.

Of the total funding including Persephone ($31.3 million), administration will look to $10 million to come from the federal government, $5 million from the provincial government, $5 million from the city, $6.3 million from self-funded parking and $5 million from fundraising.

The city's contribution will include $1 million currently held in reserve, with the remaining $4 million yet to be finalized.

Coun. Glen Penner defended the proposal, indicating it would be a move forward in proceeding with the downtown plan.

"If we do not move to the next step I'm afraid that we may lose significant momentum," he said.

He rebuffed claims of the lack of an operating budget.

"I don't think we're moving ahead willy-nilly," he said. "I'm not interested in spending money willy-nilly but I am interested in finding out if we can get the federal funds, the provincial funds that are extremely important if we are going to make any significant improvement in the downtown River Landing."

In an interview, Hnatyshyn expressed concern over the federal funding.

"The federal government offered the city a $10 million birthday gift and now it seems to be driven (by) here is what we want, you can buy yourself a birthday gift even though it is going to cost you more money than we're putting in," she said, adding the federal government is not picking up the tab for operating costs.

Space allotted for the projects were downsized by administration as part of the recommendation to council because of cost and space considerations.

Square footage available for the proposals was reduced to 10,764 square feet within the building. Leased retail space accounts for 8,611 square feet and Persephone theatre for an estimated 28,000 square feet.

The MVA was asking for 21,200 square feet for its site and Tourism Saskatoon, 4,540 square feet.

The three organizations beat out five other organizations vying for a spot within the centre.

In speaking with members of her community, Hnatyshyn said she had the sense the plan was not necessarily what the public wanted.

"When I was looking at things that would be down there in terms of public amenities, I was looking more for things not necessarily geared just so can we get a few tourists in, but what would our community, what would our families use and I'm not so sure this is what families would use," she said in an interview.

As part of the design, an diagram of the exterior of the building shows a white windowed-structure with a tall tower peaking above the building at one end.

Hnatyshyn said it didn't "have her leaping for joy at the look of it."