Mayor’s cabinet divided on police parking deal

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This article was published 13/09/2022 (835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some councillors want to put the brakes on a plan to devote a floor of the Millennium Library Parkade to police staff for secure parking.

The proposal aims to settle a grievance from the union that represents police officers. It claims the city and Winnipeg Police Service have failed to provide safe and secure parking for the personal vehicles of cops and civilian staff who work at the WPS headquarters on 245 Smith St.

The Winnipeg Police Association said the lack of safe parking has resulted in dozens of dangerous incidents since 2015, including a stabbing, an attempted shooting, multiple assaults and cases of vehicle sabotage.

The plan hit a roadblock at Wednesday’s executive policy committee meeting, where members cast a three-three vote on the idea, which means it will head for a council vote without EPC’s recommendation.

Mayor Brian Bowman said he opposes taxpayers footing the bill.

“I’m… mindful of the additional financial burden on Winnipeggers themselves. Over the next decade, this would involve more than a million dollars,” said Bowman.

The plan would cost the city about $95,600 of lost revenue per year. Another $200,000 of capital costs would be required to modify the parkade floor to allow card access to WPS members only, which the mayor believes would not be absorbed within the existing police budget.

Bowman said he believes police Chief Danny Smyth rejects the grievance and has implemented “mitigating measures” to protect the safety of officers and police staff.

The mayor joined Couns. Matt Allard and Sherri Rollins to oppose the plan, which Couns. Jeff Browaty, Markus Chambers and Brian Mayes supported. Coun. Cindy Gilroy was absent from the meeting.

Rollins said she opposes the plan for financial reasons, as well as the fact the public would lose access to hundreds of parking stalls for large events.

“My job is… to ask the bigger budgetary questions, (such as asking city staff) ‘Did you consult at all the downtown, did you consider the night time economy, the Jets (games) and concerts Winnipeggers want to take in (when they) want to park at the available parking in the Millennium Parkade?’” said Rollins.

During the EPC meeting, Mayes said rejecting the deal raises the risk the grievance will go to arbitration, which could result in a much more expensive resolution imposed on the city.

“No one likes to spend money, but (voting for this agreement) seems like a good way to be able to avoid spending millions and millions more,” he said.

The plan calls for WPS members who use the 264 parking stalls involved to pay the standard rate of $275 per space per month to rent them. If demand falls short of making use of all the spaces, no changes will be made to the parkade. As long as city hall agrees to the deal, the grievance would be dropped, whether there’s sufficient demand to complete the plan or not. If council rejects it, the matter would go to arbitration, a city report notes.

The city’s chief administrative officer said there is a risk an arbitrator-imposed solution would cost the city more.

“If the ultimate award by an arbitrator was that the city needed to be providing heavily subsidized or complimentary parking, then that absolutely would cost more than the arrangement we have proposed today,” said Michael Jack.

The head of the police union said he was disappointed by the vote.

“This is about safety and security for our members and it’s not about seeking a parking facility for an entertainment experience,” said Moe Sabourin, president of the police association.

Sabourin said addressing the danger that police officers and staff have faced must be the top priority.

“(This plan) solves a long-lasting problem that our membership experienced. Members have been stabbed, they’ve had firearms pulled on them and (people) attempted to shoot members… (We’ve had) people carving into the paint (of a vehicle), ‘f—- you, pigs,’ ” he said.

The union leader said he expects the Winnipeg Police Service budget, not general city coffers, would cover the $200,000 bill to upgrade the parkade floor. He rejected claims the police service and its chief don’t support the proposal, noting the committee that devised the deal included WPS members.

Council will cast the final vote on the matter on Sept. 22.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga