Wednesday’s city council meeting at city hall will be council’s final gathering before the new year. On the agenda is the city’s recovery from COVID-19, the former Capital Pointe lot and the proposed McDonald’s location at Evraz Place.
Councillors will be reviewing a 40-year lease agreement between the city and McDonald’s regarding leasing property at 1700 Elphinstone Street.
The old Capital Pointe site is back on the agenda as Smith Street Lands Ltd., a group which includes local lawyer Tony Merchant, has requested a partial property tax reduction on the piece of land at 1971 Albert Street. The group has proposed to pay over $2.2 million for the backfill costs of the site along with two to three years of property tax arrears if approved by council.
Smith Street Lands Ltd. is also interested in developing the site. City administration suggests council should reject the request.
A COVID-19 Recovery Reserve could be set with a recommendation to take $14,289,000 from the federal government’s Safe Re-Start Program and place it in the reserve.
Regina Exhibition Association Limited is looking for support in order to reduce debts created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Council will vote on whether they should have REAL exceed more debt and if money should be given to the association. REAL is looking for $700,000 in annual grant funding beginning in 2021 to be included in their General Operation Budget.
Another subject to return at city hall will be the possible removal of the Heavy and Long Haul Combination Route designation on 9th Avenue from Pasqua Street and Pinkie Road. City administration is recommending council to amend the traffic bylaw effective January 1, 2021.
The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. from Henry Baker Hall at city hall. The full agenda can be found at the city’s website.
