Council candidates consider recreation and culture needs

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2018 (2006 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Steinbach municipal race is more active than it’s been in over a decade as three candidates seek the mayor’s chair and 10 challengers square off for the six council seats available.

The Carillon is posing a series of questions to the candidates beginning with this week’s Steinbach profile question asking candidates if recreation and culture is a priority to them and, if so, what kind of facility they feel is most needed at this time. All candidates agree that recreation and culture is important, but each has their own take on what should happen next to serve these interests.

Mayoral candidates weigh in

Mayoral candidate Earl Funk says the question is a difficult one to answer because, he says, one could perceive that we have a few different needs when it comes to recreation and culture.

“Some might say we need a multiplex although without financial help from other levels of government we cannot take on such a large project,” he says.

Funk says his plan would start with building a new arena in a non-downtown location, with space for future growth.

“The funding model for this arena would have to be 50 percent funded by private contributions and community fundraising. The remaining 50 percent could be funded through the recreation reserve and borrowing debenture,” he says, adding that if provincial and federal funding became available, it could be applied to the loan.

“Once the arena has been built we can then analyze our next project cultural arts, indoor soccer, etc.”

One of his competitors, Paul Neustaedter, has promised a plan for a new multiplex within eight months of the election.

“Imagine taking your kids to a community events center that is comfortable in all seasons,” said Neustaedter, sharing a story that envisions what a facility might become in response to The Carillon’s question.

“The entrance is inviting and is buzzing with activity. You look to your right and you see the arts programming area and that is where you drop off one of your kids at their art class. You continue through the common area and enter the field house and watch a few minutes of your middle child’s soccer game. Your other child plays hockey in 45 minutes in the events center, it’s interesting…yesterday this part of the building hosted a high-school event and the previous weekend a trade show. After the evening events you move with your friends to the canteen area and talk about all the fun you had. Your grandparents join you on this cold evening after going for a walk around the indoor track in the events center. They just can’t believe that we finally have a place that shares walls, was built practically and affordably. Grandma mentions that she loves the new facility as they could park very close to an entry. To that, Grandpa replies, ‘That is what happens when you have a 50-year vision and a 25-year plan.’”

Mayoral candidate John Fehr says he has been a very consistent advocate for recreation and culture since he came to council, as he can see so many ways that these facilities contribute to making Steinbach better.

Fehr acknowledges that many local artists need a venue to showcase their talents and notes the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre sees 1,000 people through it every week.

He also points to the need providing opportunity for physically challenged residents to be involved in the community, where they can take part in crafts or art, or attend sporting events.

“We have limited seating available for these people at some of these venues and that needs to change,” he said.

“I would like to see both of these facilities become reality and I will work with council to ensure that we will move these forward. It is difficult to decide which of these facilities is more important because both of them add so much value to our city.”

Council candidates have their say

Candidate Adam Crookes says that this is a topic that comes up at over half the houses he visits while door knocking.

“The voters want a plan, and they want it sooner than later. We’ve waited way too long, and the cost is only rising every year to accomplish this.”

Crookes says council needs to focus on the right location, and be smart in building a facility that is the right size and a good use of the money that we can afford.

“We need to work with the private sector, and work with the different grants that will become available,” he says.

“I also believe that we need to get the local municipalities involved as this facility will be an asset to them as well.”

Cyndy Friesen hopes to trade her school trustee seat for a seat on city council.

She points to the 2016 Steinbach public engagement survey that showed support for both recreation and arts facilities.

“I believe that the most cost effective option is to build both at one location large enough to accommodate the usage this facility would have, as well as room for expansion should there be demand for other opportunities such as a senior centre.”

Friesen advocated a project done in phases, with funding secured from different levels of government and stakeholders.

Friesen said she looked forward to reviewing all previous reports and studies about the multiplex before making an informed decision on what facility is most needed.

Friesen also suggested the need for an economic development office which could attract new businesses and increase the city’s tax base to support a multiplex project.

Bill Hiebert says he strongly believes team sports and the arts have a huge benefit on young people.

“Not only does it bring communities and families together, it builds character and positively affects physical wellbeing,” he says.

“I would argue that the arena should be top priority,” Hiebert says, adding that land options should be considered outside of downtown, for many reasons, such as ample parking, affordability and room to expand.

“I realize this is a huge capital project and will require a large sum of money. That being said, I think with effective fundraising, private investors and due diligence we could make it happen without increasing the tax burden. I would love for this to be a multiplex with lots of options because it is so much more than just about an arena, it is about fitness, community pride, recreational outlets for everyone in the community.”

Incumbent Michael Zwaagstra notes the age of the Centennial Arena and says it is “clearly in need of replacement.”

“Provided we can secure substantial private funding and receive adequate support from other levels of government, I would like for the city to construct a new and expanded arena in a non-downtown location. The two existing arenas would continue to operate as separate ice surfaces. It would also be ideal to make the new arena as multi-use as possible.”

However, Zwaagstra adds recreation isn’t simply about large facilities. He says he would like to see another splash park built in the next four years and is open to exploring mid-sized projects such as an indoor soccer dome so that more sports could take place in Steinbach during the winter months.

“Throughout all of this, we need to make sure that all our recreation projects are done in a fiscally responsible way,” he concluded.

For Mitesh Kumar, recreational and cultural facilities are priorities, “to be achieved in accelerated phased manner by also encouraging private players, intensive community and other donation campaigns fully coordinated by city leaders, who must give full time attention and not just leave it to employees to handle, once elected.”

Kumar says he has observed while campaigning that many young people “have left city and elders behind, mostly because of inadequate work opportunities or recreation cultural facilities, as these are important factors to consider a city as home.”

Kumar says the city needs more residents and businesses to lead to a broader tax base.

“A lot of residents are talking about performing art center followed by sports center and that’s what our priorities should be, to start with. At the same time, we must make every effort to not increase taxes, as many people are facing economic hardships and I stand by them.”

Incumbent Jac Siemens says Steinbach needs low or no cost recreation opportunities like walking trails, splash parks, green spaces plus outdoor skating and ski trails where costs are low to participate summer or winter. He adds that arts and culture programming is important for those looking for that type of creative outlet with participation opportunities for people of all ages.

“I would place an indoor soccer facility as a top priority,” Siemens said.

“The sport is growing, and we could potentially have many more kids participating due to lower registration, travel and equipment costs.”

He also notes the need for a performing arts center, with space to run programming too. Siemens says the city’s aging arena needs to be replaced with one that will seat 1,500 people. A multi-use facility, if built, needs a large gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and other courts for sports with a walking track.

Alan Wiebe says the SRSS theatre is an important part of the community but that it is time to give the school its theatre back.

“Steinbach Plaza in front of T.G. Smith Centre establishes Elmdale Street as the city’s premier recreational district,” said Wiebe, who believes a downtown arts venue and events centre should be a top priority.

Wiebe says a mixed-use facility should generate revenue for the space as a not-for-profit corporation operating at arm’s length from the city. He adds that the facility should seek out an appropriate flagship tenant to invest in such a space with a scope for arts, culture, recreation, and events.

“A self-sustaining facility that generates its own revenue is most needed because it will reduce taxpayer costs and minimize involvement from local government,” he said.

Incumbent Susan Penner says recreation and culture are important, but so is an approach that is realistic in its scope and within the city’s budget, which already commits over $1 million a year to its recreation reserve.

Penner says her vision is to put an indoor soccer facility by the current soccer park during the upcoming term. Using existing city land, Penner says there are many durable, affordable dome options.

In the following term of council (starting in 2022), Penner says she envisions a new arena being built near Highway 12 N, after which the Centennial Arena could be converted into a multi-use fieldhouse.

“I would like to see an indoor track go into one of these facilities so there would be a safe and dry place for residents to walk and run during our long winters.”

She says she will also continue to support improvements to the Steinbach Arts Centre’s programming space, noting her efforts to lead council in matching a private grant SAC recently received.

Candidate Jake Hiebert says Steinbach needs both a multiplex sports center and a multiplex Arts Center.

“In order to ensure viability and sustainability, I believe that both need be “multi-purpose”,” he says.

Hiebert says a recreation center may include various sports and a gym facility, while a cultural center may have a room for the arts presentations as well as a convention center and possibly special events area accommodating meetings and weddings.

Hiebert says he looks forward to presentations to council that outline viable business plans and adds that serious consideration and discussion must be given to the consequences and risks should such facilities not be advanced.

“Last but not least, council needs to be reminded that they are working for and on behalf of the taxpayer. As such, we need to be prudent and diligent with taxpayers’ money and not mislead the trust extended,” he said.

Damian Penner says Steinbach has a diverse talent field and council must have a vision of growth in all areas, and not limit themselves to a “this or that”.

Penner says city facilities need to be brought to the 21st century, and the first step is that a viable public plan is in place, and an assertive council moves the plan forward.

“Too many times plans have come forward to council in the past eight years, yielding no results,” he says.

“Steinbach has earned the deserved title of “Most Generous City in Canada”,” he says, “and with an assertive city council advocating for private support, as well as funding from the provincial and federal governments, we can bring these new facilities to the community. This all starts with a public plan, and foresight, neither of which have been prevalent thus far regarding our facilities.”

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