Thunder Bay City Council to get update on turf sports facility funding

The City of Thunder Bay is recommending nearly half the cost of the proposed all-season turf sports facility be covered by a special debenture.

A report from administration on the project will be presented to council at Monday's meeting.

And while the report contains a number of recommendations, they won't be voted on just yet; rather, the document is being presented as a first report, giving councillors and the public a chance to review the project and recommendations before a decision is made.

The vote itself is scheduled for Aug. 10.

In the report to be presented Monday, administration does recommend the project be put out for construction tender.

Further, administration outlines how the $33-million project will be funded.

About half of the required funding would come from the city; the report identifies various internal sources, including previously-approved capital that's been allocated to the facility, the Indoor Turf Reserve Fund, the estimated 2020 Municipal Accommodation Tax revenue, and the Renew Thunder Bay Reserve Fund.

A $15 million special debenture would cover the rest.

However, the report states city administration "will continue to explore alternate external funding opportunities" for the project, and depending on what's available, the special debenture could be reduced, or eliminated altogether (it won't be issued until construction is complete).

The city currently aims for the facility to be completed in 2022, but administration cautions in the report that the project could face delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential problems, the city said, include reduced productivity due to lack of available labour due to sickness, or site shutdowns because of a COVID-19 outbreak among workers.

The project could also be affected by delays in the delivery of materials and equipment to the site, or a shortage of materials because of factory closures or or shipping interruptions.