A decision on the Centennial Botanical Conservatory will wait until July.
City Council wants to see what their Program and Services Review recommends for the conservatory before starting some major upgrades.
A report from city Administration recommended going ahead with the replacement of their cold frame greenhouse. It is used for the Parks division, growing plants and flowers for the city and Low-Impact Developments. Staff say it’s necessary for the plants to spend time in the structure before being planted so they can acclimate to a cooler temperature than the greenhouse they’re grown in.
They expect the replacement to cost $75,000 using money that has already been set aside, and project that it will make all of that money back within the first year.
Councillor Rebecca Johnson was not sold on the idea, arguing they should wait.
“On Page 103 of the Services Review, we have the Conservatory listed down, so why are we proceeding with this to actually spend money, when we are going to be looking at this in June?” Johnson asks.
Councillor Mark Bentz claims approving the greenhouse would sign them up for spending millions more.
“You’re asking us to make a commitment tonight, and then we’ll see what happens in June, we might make another $2-million commitment,” Bentz says, “And then we’re heading to another $3-million commitment. It’s like a $5-million commitment that starts with a $75,000 ask tonight.”
City staff say it’s necessary to replace this greenhouse this year. City spokesperson Mike Dickson urges the cold-frame greenhouse should have been replaced years ago.
“We have no choice to use it this year regardless, because the new one did not get built last year. It’s not going to be built this spring, because it’ll be filled with plants this spring. If
we’re going to replace it, it has to be replaced this year.”
He claims this decision will mean “severely restricting” their ability to grow plants for the Low-Impact Developments.
The report also recommends waiting for the outcome of the review before going ahead with the tender documents for the Production Greenhouses.
