Mayor Don Scott wants administration to look into how much it would cost to dismantle the weather catcher standing over Jubilee Plaza.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Scott submitted a motion asking council debate the issue at its Feb. 26 meeting.

The weather catcher, a six-storey latticework of pipes and grates designed to spray mist over the plaza, was unveiled in the summer of 2015.

Public feedback was instantaneously negative towards the structure, with many people calling it an eyesore. Its unpopularity intensified when it was revealed the mystifying public art installation had a $2.2 million price tag attached.

If the structure is dismantled, Scott wants administration to look into other ways to use the space.

Council also voted unanimously to defer talks about turning Shell Place into an all-weather facility until further notice.

The motion to have administration look into upgrading Shell Place into an all-weather facility was first brought forward by Councillor Phil Meagher in November 2018.

The initial estimated cost of the project would be $116.2 million. It would include $89 million for the new facility, $7.2 million for site services, $7 million for architectural services, and $13 million for furniture fixtures and equipment.

“I’d like to move that we defer this item so that administration has more time to bring back more concepts and more feasibility,” said Meagher.

Councillors Verna Murphy and Sheila Lalonde were absent from the meeting.

Cannabis motion passes

Council also amended the mandatory distances between cannabis retailers and structures considered “legislated facilities,” such as schools, daycares and health care centres. Within Fort McMurray, the boundaries will now be 100 metres instead of the original 150 metres.

Councillor Mike Allen first proposed the motion last month. During Tuesday’s meeting, he acknowledged the current bylaw was made after public consultation.

However, those meetings were made before legalization was introduced last October, and Allen argued there were many unknowns at the time. He also argued it would provide incentivize economic development.

“I’m not suggesting that we want to approve a cannabis store to be right next door to a school, but I think that there are cases where it actually does make sense in a retail shopping district,” he said. “I think if we were able to give this little bit of flexibility, we would not be giving opportunity away.”

A similar motion was proposed by Councillor Krista Balsom last November, which was defeated in the first reading after the vote came to a five-five tie.

Councillors Meagher, Lalonde, Murphy, Jane Stroud and Claris Voyaguer all opposed. Councillor Keith McGrath was absent from the meeting.

Allen said he thought it was important to at least get to the public hearing stage.

“I think that was really what was important here, was that we allow the public to come in and speak to this,” he said.

Meagher said he had some issues with Allen’s motion and wondered what 100 metres would look like.

“I don’t want to restrict anybody going into business either, but we can’t be too close that we’re going to sell ourselves down the river,” he said.

The motion passed 8-1, with Meagher opposed. Administration will now draft a bylaw that will be brought forward to council, and if passed the first reading, it would proceed to a public hearing.

Scott invites Bill C-69 committee

Scott also made a motion to reach out to the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment, inviting them to visit Fort McMurray as they review Bill C-69.

“Our region is the heart of development and the heart of the Canadian economy,” he said. “I believe we need to start influencing our own destiny in this region and this bill will impact this region and the industry in this region.”

He said the visit would give those impacted by Bill C-69, Indigenous peoples and those who work with industry an opportunity to give feedback.

lbeamish@postmedia.com