Big year | Lots on plate for 2010

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By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

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Mayor Brad Woodside says it would be unrealistic for Frederictonians to expect a tax-rate cut in 2010.

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The Daily Gleaner/Ray Bourgeois

Mayor Brad Woodside speaks to family members prior to his state of the city address. From left is his wife Anne, mother-in-law Norma Sneyd and his daughter Carrie Woodside.

This is a rendering of the design for the Grant*Harvey Centre from Centreline Architects of Ottawa. The company, which also designed Willie O’Ree Place, is completing its document preparation so the city can issue a tender call early in 2010 for the construction of the new indoor dual-pad ice hockey arena.

The capital city mayor, delivering his annual state of the city address at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Thursday night, said the city can't accomplish what it needs to do by dropping the rate to the $1.38 per $100 recommended under a new provincial government tax accountability mechanism.

Fredericton's tax rate stands at $1.41 per $100 - the lowest rate of any city in the province.

The voluntary control suggests that the city receive tax on new construction, but that it restrict its take on reassessments to an increase of only 0.6 per cent for 2010.

"With the construction that's taking place, with the road work that's being done, with the infrastructure that's being replaced, it's been very difficult because we said we wouldn't raise the tax rate and despite all that we had going on, we haven't raised the tax rate," Woodside said.

"But there's not much of a chance that we're going to go backwards. Maybe people won't like to hear that, but that's not realistic. We can't do the kinds of things we're doing right now ... and do it by reducing the tax rate.''

The city is tinkering with the 2010 budget for presentation in late December and councillors will have to make cuts just to maintain the current tax rate.

But Woodside did have good news to pass along in his speech.

He unveiled the design for the Grant*Harvey Centre on Knowledge Park Drive.

Centreline Architects of Ottawa, which also designed Willie O'Ree Place, is completing its documents for a construction call in early 2010.

The arena will boast an NHL-size rink and one Olympic ice oval, as well as a community room and indoor walking track.

In 2010, under a partnership between Holland College and the City of Fredericton, the 14-week basic firefighter training course will be taught at the city's new fire station and public safety training facility at Two Nations Crossing. The course will begin in April.

Woodside predicted that 2010 will be a transitional year for the city as it looks forward to the opening of its new downtown convention centre, provincial government office building and parking garage.

Construction in Fredericton, despite the recession, is expected to hit close to $120 million by year-end, Woodside said.

Local former Olympian Marianne Limpert, who was the silver medalist in the 200-metre individual medley at the 1996 Olympic Games, will be the final torch bearer for the Fredericton leg of the Olympic torch relay.

A community celebration to welcome the torch will be held at Officers Square on Thursday at 6 p.m.

"What a huge thrill. What an honour for me. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet," Limpert said. "What a special opportunity this is."

Limpert said donning her uniform and participating in the event will cause her to reflect on her career and the great experiences she had.

"How great to have this opportunity here at home where it all started," Limpert said.