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Decision day for City Council on Emergency Services Campus

Mayor Lehman says 'it's time' to proceed
Screen Shot 2017-06-20 at 9.46.14 AM
Rendering of of a proposed emergency services campus that includes police, fire and the Simcoe County Paramedic Services with a projected cost of $120.5 million

City council is holding a special meeting tonight to make a decision on a proposed $120.5 million first responders campus that includes police, fire and the Simcoe County Paramedic Services. 

Councillors will be presented with a list of alternative costing scenarios for the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus in a bid to manage the big price tag.

"It's time for council to make a decision. We're going to cost our taxpayers more money by dithering," said Mayor Jeff Lehman.

A staff report to be presented at Monday night's meeting says there's a $29.5 million difference between the police/fire/paramedics campus versus building separate facilities for each. 

It also states a campus facility will save an estimated 18 percent ($370,000) annually compared to standalone facility operations and maintenance costs. 

The report outlines four alternative funding formulas with one that features $2.5 million in savings.

However, staff say those savings may be short term due to renovation costs in the first ten years to accommodate growth.

Last month, councillors deferred a decision and instead asked city staff to cut 10 per cent of the costs associated with Building A, which includes both the paramedicine hub and the police headquarters and then examine phasing of the other two buildings - an indoor fire training facility and a police vehicle repair centre.

"We've had all the information about this project for months. The reality is it is a very big ticket and I understand why residents out there would be shocked at the price tag. All council was shocked at the price tag," said Lehman.

"When you put three expensive projects together it's a really big price tag. But I think it's been made clear it's going to save us money compared to do doing these separately.  How can we phase it?  Can we do it in a way that reduces the debt?  That is my big concern."

Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood says a new facility is overdue.

The Chief was asked about the campus during a recent speech at a Barrie Chamber of Commerce event. 

"We have been asking for a facility since 2003. There's been 18 motions to council on having new police accommodations.  We've had three chiefs involved in this. We've had three mayors involved in this and we've had three Barrie Police Service chairpersons," she told the audience. 

"It's been a long time and I'm hoping we are successful. Currently we have four locations we are working out of and it's not an efficient way to run a business in a city of this size."

The Mayor says council should proceed but he's concerned about the amount of debt.

"If we were to do that one big ticket and borrow most of that money, that's too much debt as far as I'm concerned.  So my focus on Monday is going to be bringing in a different funding breakdown to greatly reduce the proposed amount of debt.  Debentures under DCs makes some sense because that's future growth paying for growth and those debentures are serviced by development charges over time," he said. 

"But tax-supported debt, there's way too much. So my view is we need to make a decision."

A previous staff report cited $50 million in debt load. 

"We've got to find a better way to fund it. That's way way above my comfort level," said Lehman.

"I'd like to see half that and I think the reason half that is a good number, there is some debt the city will be retiring from other facilities... If we can do this and take that room that is created by debt-retirement in 2019-20 that may be a better way to do it."

The special council meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 


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Sue Sgambati

About the Author: Sue Sgambati

Sue has had a 30-year career in journalism working for print, radio and TV. She is a proud member of the Barrie community.
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