The future of a parkette at the corner of Caradoc and Cannan Streets in Strathroy remains up in the air after Council recently voted against two different options for the green space. Having $23,000 already allocated to this space, staff brought three options to the council chambers and recommended option 3 which was for council to direct staff to continue with a design site/landscape plan and complete the project in full but adding an additional $35,900 in cost to the already allocated $23,000 for an approximately $58,900. Director of Community Services Rob Lilbourne says staff had plans for that area.
Deputy Mayor Mike McGuire was not a fan of this proposal.
Council voted against Option 3, then Councillor John Brennan motioned to accept an option 2 which was to reduce the scope of the project to fall within the remaining $23,000. Deputy Mayor McGuire asked for friendly amendment where additional trees are planted and costing for a sidewalk is brought into it.
Option 2 resulted in a council tie vote of 4-4 to which Mayor Colin Grantham broke the tie voting against the motion. The money will continue to remain until further notice or council can reallocate the money somewhere else.
At the 2023 capital budget meetings this project was discussed by Council as an item that could be reallocated, but it was decided to keep the funding and for staff to come back with a design and costing.
The currently budgeted amount of $23,000 will not be sufficient to conduct the work and staff are looking for the council’s direction. To execute the site plan as attached staff require an additional $35,900.
The staff provided three options for Council consideration.
Option 1 – Leave the corner in its current state with a few trees and an updated fence.
Option 2 – Reduce the scope of the project to fall within the remaining funds of $23,000.00 (this option does not provide much ability to create anything of interest or impact)
Option 3 – Direct staff to continue with the above-noted site/landscape plan and complete the project
in full for a cost of approximately $58, 900.00
Funding for this project if approved would come from the current capital budget ($23,000.00) and the Parkland Cash in Lieu Reserved Fund ($35,900.00). There is currently $421,193.47 Parkland Cash in Lieu.
written by: C. Soares