Penner continues push against arts centre

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This article was published 05/10/2015 (3124 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach city councillor Susan Penner has made official her wish for the city to yank from the stage its plans for a performing arts centre.

Three weeks after surprising her council colleagues with her wish to cancel the project, Penner submitted a notice of motion to council on Tuesday night, calling on the July 21 decision which prioritized the performing arts centre to be reconsidered.

The matter will be brought to council for debate on Oct. 20. Councillor Earl Funk has said previously that he will support Penner in bringing the idea forward for debate. Other members of council were cool to Penner’s idea when she presented it last month. A majority vote would be required for a review to proceed.

Penner’s notice to council on Tuesday night highlighted three points. She said there was no formal public consultation to determine if residents wanted a multiplex and, secondly, what the first phase should be. She added there has been significant taxpayer concern about the scope and cost of the proposed performing arts centre.

Penner’s notice calls on the city to engage in a formal consultation process with residents and the local business community to determine their priorities when it comes to recreation and cultural facilities before determining to proceed with a multiplex and what the first phase should be.

City council first decided in 2010 that recreation and cultural facilities would be one of their top priorities.