Cambridge staff to talk to Home Depot about fountains, but council nixes report on revitalization | CBC News
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Staff workload and costs has scaled back an idea to revitalized the fountains on Hespeler and Pinebush Roads in Cambridge.
Coun. Scott Hamilton brought forward a motion Tuesday night to ask staff to create a report about the fountains, which were built in the 1980s by supermarket chain Knob Hill Farms. The fountains have not operated for decades.
Hamilton’s motion asked staff to report back with information on the feasibility of different placemaking options for the space, like installing LED lights or creating a civic space, after the fountains have stood dry for decades.
“It’s going to get busier with the LRT, the GO station and the thousands of units that have been approved, so I think looking ahead at the importance of this critical juncture for the future, it helps to ask questions today: What can we do with this?” Hamilton said.
But several councillors and Mayor Jan Liggett raised concerns about adding more to staff workload.
“[Staff] are overwhelmed. They are stressed, They can’t do the work they’ve got currently,” Liggett said.
She also urged caution about the financial implications that will come with the motion as the city is facing $39 million in unpaid taxes from 2025 and previous years and more than 6,000 overdue accounts.
“It’s mind boggling,” Liggett said. “We have unfunded capital projects right here in our budget and we’re going to have unfunded capital projects starting into the 2027 budget as well.”
City manager Rob Axiak told councillors that staff would need to work with consultants to bring back information on Hamilton’s motion, which would cost the city.
He also said Hamilton’s motion, if approved, could have the potential to push off other projects.
Hamilton’s motion was amended and now staff have been directed to speak with Home Depot about the fountains and report back to council with the results of those conversations.
Staff will also explore future opportunities with post-secondary institutions to work on ideas to revitalize the space or include the idea as part of a secondary plan inclusion.