Vote on $4 million to LaSalle Marina for floating wavebreak to council tonight

City council will vote tonight on a proposal to fully pay the $4 million for a new floating wavebreak for LaSalle Marina, using Hydro Reserve funds.The full text of the recommendation to be voted on is below.Residents can attend and speak at the council meeting at 6:30pm, by registering before noon today: Register as a DelegationMy Take: I support the public boat ramp, sailing school and the marina, which has coexisted with the Trumpeter Swans for many years and provided a service to the community. However, I do not support the community paying 100% of the cost of the new floating wavebreak.  I proposed an alternative motion at committee (lost) that would provide the marina a loan to pay for the wavebreak over 28 years (the expected life of the new wavebreak). This time would allow ample opportunities for fundraising, fee adjustment at the marina, grant programs or other means to pay for the next wavebreak. Recouping costs from the marina would also be fair to the other sports and cultural groups in our city who have had to fundraise for significant capital projects (for example, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre and Joseph Brant Museum expansion).Committee supported my motion for a stakeholder group and monitoring of the impact of the new wave floating wavebreak on the Trumpeter Swan population. These were conditions imposed by the Minister of the Environment for a permanent wavebreak, but not required for a floating wavebreak. This comes forward to council for a final vote tonight also.MOTION ON: LaSalle Park Marina next steps (CM-07-18)Moved by Councillor CravenDirect the City Solicitor and Director of Finance to explore earlytermination of the joint venture agreement with the LaSalle Park Marina Association and report back to Council on the legal and financial implications of an early exit and a funding source(s) to fulfill the city’s obligations; andDirect the Director of Parks & Recreation to negotiate a revisedrelationship agreement with the La Salle Park Marina Association formanaging/administering all boating activity at the marina as well as themaintenance and replacement of all structures behind the wave breakincluding the docks, and any other ancillary equipment as soon aspossible; andDirect the Director of Parks & Recreation to initiate discussions with the Hamilton Port Authority, the LaSalle Park Marina Association and the City of Hamilton regarding opportunities to secure moorage space at Hamilton Harbour for the members of LaSalle Park Marina Association if moorage space is required during the purchase and construction of the new wave break; andDirect the Executive Director of Capital Works to initiate a request forproposal for the design/build of a floating wave break as soon as possible; andApprove funding for design/build of a new floating wave break at LaSalle Park Marina to an upset limit of $4,000,000 to be funded from the Hydro Reserve Fund, contingent upon the signing of a long term agreement with the LaSalle Park Marina Association; andDirect the Director of Parks & Recreation to review the city’s currentagreements with other marina stakeholders with a view to identifying any changes that may be required as a result of this proposed course of action, and report back to Council; andEstablish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee and consider anongoing monitoring and mitigating plan as outlined in the Minister'sconditions.CARRIEDMoved by Councillor Meed WardAdd "including repayment" to the fifth clause after the words "upon signing of a long term agreement".LOSTMoved by Councillor Meed WardAdd a new clause "Establish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee andconsider an ongoing monitoring and mitigating plan as outlined in theMinister's conditions."CARRIED