The quagmire at City Hall
Brampton City Council needs to consult the private sector marketplace to find a creative and a less expensive solution for City Hall expansion and Downtown revitalization.
The debate about the expansion of Brampton’s City Hall has become a quagmire of politics, spin and confusion and despite two public meetings, the picture still remains unclear. Public meeting dates have been hastily organized and poorly communicated.  Information is sketchy and incomplete. Even City Councillors complain that they are out of the loop. Some cynics suggest it’s intentional.

The City says it will need an additional 246,000 square feet of office space to house its employees over the next 20 years. Actually they said that in 2002 and Council voted to locate staff in Downtown Brampton under one roof. By 2005, City Council issued an expression of interest, inviting developers to provide creative solutions to meet its City Hall space needs. Four developers responded, two proposed significant private sector involvement with amenities such as retail/condominium space, a library and community police station. Council abandoned the process in advance of an election. So, four years later there is still no dispute about the need to build but roadblocks persist.  And another municipal election is looming in 2010.

The Brampton Board of Trade and the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation have argued that expanding city hall now will save taxpayers millions of dollars because borrowing rates and construction costs are at all-time lows.  

Confounding debate is confusion over the cost of expansion. City politicians were stunned when City Staff reported the cost to be about $200 million at an all-day workshop in April. The Region of Peel built a 200,000 square foot Class B building for just $56.5 million at a time when construction costs were peaking. City staff is unable to explain why the numbers differ so much.

Developer John Cutruzzola,  who built the existing City Hall and also responded to the City’s expression of interest, says he can build the expansion, including a new library, 800 parking stalls, (including a private sector investment of $37 million comprising retail and a condominium development) for a total cost of $85 million. In fact, Cutruzzola says he can meet the City’s space needs, revitalize the Downtown and it would not require the City to go into debt or raise taxes.

City staff was criticized for its initial presentation at the council workshop and a second report at a public meeting on June 1 provided more detail but was equally confusing.  Staff presented only one option - build 246,000 square feet of new office space with 861 parking spaces at a cost of $204 million. The report says that will drives taxes up 5.3% or, in effect, cost every Brampton homeowner $92 annually. 

The staff report fails to consider other build options, private sector involvement or even other financial options.  It fails to identify offset savings, revenue potential for private sector involvement or even parking income. Staff responded to what it was asked to prepare. Why was the direction so limiting? Why are there no other options presented?

Currently, the city leases 57,000 square feet of commercial office space downtown at a projected annual cost of $1 million. That’s 54% of all commercial office space in Downtown Brampton - space that might otherwise be occupied by private business people, who also pay property tax.  Those savings and potential revenues are also not included.

Much was made of the scope of the project at a meeting The Board of Trade attended with Mayor Susan Fennell and City staff earlier this year.  Council’s wish list in 2005 included 200,000 plus square feet of office space, 800 plus parking spaces, a library, a daycare centre and a community police station.  Developers responded.  Council did not. The wish list today has not changed significantly.

Brampton Board of Trade President Carman McClelland encouraged the City to start the process of consultation immediately at a Council appearance in February.  He urged Council to move quickly and transparently to consult the private sector in a formal tender call.  Allow the marketplace to respond to the City’s unquestionable need for space, its stated purpose to revitalize Downtown and its concern for prudent fiscal management, he said.

BBOT Golf tournament June 18 The 47th annual Brampton Board of Trade Golf tournament on June 18 has a new home, format and sponsors. This year it’s at Lionhead Golf and Country Club. There is one tee off at 1:30 and play is best ball/scramble. REGISTER HERE. Title sponsor is TD Bank Financial Group, Grand Prize Sponsor is Vision 2000 and American Airlines. Cocktail Sponsor is the Inzola Group, Putting contest sponsor is Goodison Insurance and Financial Services along with the ongoing support from G & A Corporate Events. Dinner sponsor is WaudWare and apparel sponsor is Pallett Valo LLP. Herbal Magic is tying their in-house promotion to support both the BBOT annual and Ladies on the Link. From left, Al Desrochers, Herbal Magic Franchisee; BBOT CEO Gary Collins; Tournament Chair Terry McIntyre; Ladies on the Link Chair Deb Butterwick; Jennifer Langlois, VP Operations Herbal Magic; BBOT President Carman McClelland; Lynda Thompson, Director of Training & Development Herbal Magic and  Frances Papathanasiou, District Manager Herbal Magic. The 47th annual Brampton Board of Trade Golf Tournament on June 18 has a new home and a new format. REGISTER HERE