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This article was published 7/2/2020 (223 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg should risk spending some of its contentious impact fee revenues on a new fire hall for Waverley West, the area's city councillor says.

Coun. Janice Lukes said Friday she’s concerned lives could be lost if a facility is not built soon. The southwest Winnipeg neighbourhood now contains a larger population than Brandon, yet doesn’t have a fire station within its borders, and there’s no guarantee the upcoming 2020-23 budget will change that, she said.

"I’m absolutely hoping that they would consider this in the budget process. I have to do everything I can," said Lukes.

It’s worth claiming some of the levy’s revenue for a fire hall now, even if an ongoing legal challenge forces the municipality to later return those funds, she said.

The City of Winnipeg has roughly $29.7 million in its impact fee reserve, but has not spent any of that revenue, as local developers have launched a legal challenge seeking to quash the fee entirely. Lukes said $10.2 million of the overall revenue was raised on new construction in Waverley West, and is suited to be spent on emergency service infrastructure.

"I really feel that some of this funding… should go towards a fire hall. This is money that’s just sitting there," she said, adding she is also open to other funding sources for an area fire station.

A legal case launched against Winnipeg’s impact fees, also known as growth fees, is expected to move forward later this month. The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association and Urban Development Institute aim to prove the city lacks the authority to charge the fee.

Supporters have argued the city needs to charge growth fees to ensure new development pays for its demands on services and infrastructure; developers insist fees and taxes on new builds already cover those costs.

Coun. Scott Gillingham, finance committee chairman, said he’s open to discussing the issue within the 2020-23 budget process; however, he’s concerned a court could overturn the levy and force the city to return the money.

"That’s been my reluctance to access the impact fee reserve fund… (though) I think it’s fair to have a discussion," said Gillingham (St. James).

It’s too soon to say if the city’s next budget will provide any funding for a Waverley West fire hall, he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca