Councillors support regreening hospital parking lot

After initially expressing reluctance because of the $950,000 pricetag, support appears to be building among city councillors to regreen the parking lot at the former hospital sooner, rather than later.

The parking lot is still in use by staff at nearby Health Sciences North, but the hospital is building a new lot on land purchased from a nearby golf club. Regreening it is the first phase of a long-term, $10-$20 million plan to transform Bell Park.

While there are no funds in place now for the full project, $350,000 has been set aside this year for the parking lot project.

But when councillors learned two weeks ago that money was already in place, some were angry that money had been committed before councillors approved the plan.

“The reason we brought it up was because the project was never approved,” said Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan, speaking at the Feb. 24 budget meeting. “I was surprised it was in there prior to approval. It was like putting the cart before the horse.”

So staff went back and suggested options for reallocating the $350,000 to other projects, and presented the new list on Tuesday.

But Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier said the project was key to protecting water quality in Ramsey Lake. Since the money is already accounted for in the capital budget, it wouldn't affect their efforts to freeze taxes this year.

“By removing that item, it opens it up to being kicked down the road further and further,” Cormier said. “Reallocating the money has no impact on the tax levy. It's already in capital reserves.”

And Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh said removing the lot will prevent salt, oil and other pollutants from leaching into Ramsey, a major source of drinking water in the city.

“Taking care of this parking lot is essential to preserving the lake,” McIntosh said.

Ward 5 Coun. René Lapierre said the broader plan for Bell Park is too expensive for the city right now, but it's important to get started.

“We can't do it in one chunk – we don't have $22 million,” Lapierre said. “But the base process is getting rid of that parking lot. And it's going to become an eyesore after awhile.”

All councillors voted for the plan, with the exception of Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier, who said two weeks ago he was getting a lot of questions from residents about why the city would spend $950,000 tearing up a parking lot “in a city that needs parking.”