New $15.4M ice rink, year-round event space approved in front of city hall

In a narrow vote, Windsor city council has decided to move forward with a new year-round event space that will feature an ice rink in the winter in front of city hall for $15.4 million.

It's the first part of a five-phase civic esplanade project that will reshape the area between city hall and the Detroit River.

But the council debate opened up questions about what type of city projects should move forward when inflation and labour shortages are making costs skyrocket.

Council voted 6-5 in favour of the project.

Councillors Renaldo Agostino, Jim Morrison, Kieran McKenzie, Gary Kaschak, and Ed Sleiman voted in favour of the project with Mayor Drew Dilkens casting the deciding vote to approve the budget.

This ice rink replaces the one that was shut down at Charles Clark Square in 2022 after repair costs were estimated at around a million dollars.

Council approved a $4-million budget to replace the rink with something new that year, then elected to include it in part of the civic esplanade project.

The scope changed with the addition of a water feature, bathrooms, lighting and a building to house an ice re-surfacer.

So did the budget, increasing to $9.3 million as part of the 2024 budget.

Ice rink costs shocked staff initially

Bids to build the project from construction groups came in with a roughly $500,000 difference, and within market range, according to staff, but well beyond the original budget.

"When we first opened the tenders we were shocked," said commissioner of community services Ray Mensour.

The costs had jumped to $15.4 million with expectations that the operating budget would fall within the $100,000 a year budgeted for Charles Clark Square.

Council will spend $2.3 million from its $8 million Corporation Inflation Mitigation budget to cover off part of the increases.

This concept drawing shows a design for the outdoor rink in front of city hall. (City of Windsor)

An additional $3.2 million will come from the Canada Community Building Fund and $576,000 from the Tourism Infrastructure, Development and Program fund.

Dilkens said that the city has spent more than $800,000 on the design and consulting work used for the project.

Mensour warned council that the rink will likely not be ready in time for the winter.

"They're going to do everything they can to have it ready for at least a portion of the upcoming season," said Mensour.

How council voted on the ice rink

Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac warned that future budgets are going to include difficult decisions, highlighting projects council has signed off on conceptually but still need to approve final budgets for.

She highlighted the peace fountain, which is set to be replaced, as an example.

We have an asset that was perfectly unique, but my God, if the cost on it is going to be anywhere near this — like three, four times the cost?" she asked council.

She voted against the increased costs and wanted to see alternative options presented to council.

"I've always wanted a Jaguar convertible. Instead I have a Dodge Journey that's 12 years old," said Gignac.

"Everybody wants the nicest one. I believe that. I want the nicest one too until I have to make a decision on spending other's money."

Coun. Fred Francis took issue with how the report urged council to support this project because supporting the civic esplanade project is listed as a point in the Strengthen the Core plan for downtown Windsor.

He said he asked staff at the time if there were any budget concerns with the civic esplanade project but wasn't told about these budget overruns.

Francis voted against the project.

Coun. Kieran McKenzie said there's no future where an outdoor ice rink is built at a lower cost than what's included in the civic esplanade project.

"For me, the community has said we want an ice rink," he told council, noting there's been significant concerns about the costs but believes the event space is worth it.

"I buy the arguments around the economic development opportunity."

The rink will be open in winter and the centre will be used as a decorative fountain the rest of the year. (City of Windsor)

Downtown councillor Agostino said that the rink is a vital piece of downtown's future.

He said it builds on the success of the Jurassic Park events he put together during the Toronto Raptors' championship season, prior to his election to council.

"Let's keep our foot on the gas for downtown everyone," he told council.

Coun. Angelo Marignani voted against the project, saying people told him they had their "mind blown" by the costs.

"I absolutely loved it when it first came to council, but it has switched."

West end councillor Fabio Costante said he'd support a project to replace the Charles Clark Square arena because it's what people want but not as its currently presented.

"What the community didn't want was an ice rink on steroids,' said Costante.

He said there's other ways to build up downtown, including the rehabilitation of University Avenue.

"I think now is the time," said Coun. Gary Kaschak as he announced his support for the rink comparing it to what's available in Detroit.

"We're in one of our best economic strengths in the city in a long time."

Morrison said he agrees "full heartily" with Agostino that the project needs to move ahead as a year round event space.

"This is just one component. Don't look at it as we're just going to plunk an ice rink in front of city hall."

Coun. Mark McKenzie called it a tough one and said "we really got to start being fiscally responsible here."

He said he heard from many residents and not one said they wanted it to move forward at a $15-million price tag.

Sleiman didn't explain his vote in favour of the project.

"Nuts and bolts of it, this comes down to money," said Dilkens, who said that the money is coming from city budgets that haven't been assigned to roads or sewer projects.

He supported the project and reassured council future projects will find a way to get completed.

"All of this stuff will get done. Whether it's the peace fountain, overages anywhere else, we will find sensible ways to get these things done."