Windsor Ward 8 Councillor Bill Marra isn't holding any grudges after his impassioned plea for funding to kick start a new Fountainbleu community centre project was shot down by city council.
Marra made an extended pitch to council during Tuesday's budget discussion to have funding for three road projects in his ward, totalling $585,000, flipped to cover the $566,000 estimated cost of engineering and design work for a new community centre in the Fountainbleu area.
Many of those councillors who pushed back against the initiative pointed to a lack of process in voting against Marra's motion, arguing that a feasibility study would be needed first before approving engineering and design plans.
Marra felt he had a good case but ultimately was unsuccessful. "It's around really creating stabilized neighbourhoods. I've never been a proponent of destabilizing and centralizing these services in bigger centres but, with that said, the majority of council voted the way they did. I'm hopeful that the recreation master plan for the next council identifies it as a priority and hopefully it'll be given consideration."
Marra is disappointed he couldn't get the project rolling for the Fountainbleu community. "Not disappointed for myself but, disappointed for the community — in fact they were texting me and watching. They're pretty bummed out to be honest with you. They put a lot of work into it and this is a group that's been around almost 20 years but, they recognize that it was a political process to identify projects and votes took place."
Council approved a new six-year $644-million capital plan including $122-million in capital spending in 2018.
A property tax increase of 0.9% was approved which will roughly add $27 on the typical tax bill for a home valued at $150,000.