Tax exemptions, road renewal on Regina city council agenda

From tax exemptions to road renewal, Regina city council has plenty on the agenda Monday night.

Members from non-profits — such as the Saskatchewan Science Centre, MacKenzie Art Gallery and the RCMP Heritage Centre — will appear before council, asking for exemption from the community non-profit tax exemption policy.

The Royal Canadian Legion in Regina is also looking for a tax break, citing its declining membership and “financially challenging and dire times” in its submission to Monday night’s meeting.

A consultant’s report on under-utilized land in the city will also be discussed. As a way to encourage development in the 752 vacant lots, abandoned buildings and surface parking lots around Regina, the report proposes taxing the property owners at a higher rate with the help of the provincial government.

Council will also vote on a land sale between Regina’s Huda School and the City. The school is hoping to buy the city-owned property next to its building on Sheppard Street with plans to ultimately expand it.

Another vote will be held regarding the city administration’s recommendations on how to speed up the current slow pace of road renewal. It suggests, instead of whole-scale rebuilds, more surface treatments.

Also on Monday night, Councillor Bob Hawkins will bring forward a notice of motion, asking for council meetings to go no longer than four and a half hours.

“Attention wanes after lengthy sittings, and important items near the end of long agendas do not receive the attention that they deserve,” he wrote in the notice of motion.

Further to the time limit, Hawkins suggests a mandatory 15-minute “health break” be called two hours and 15 minutes into council meetings.

Regina city council reconvenes in Henry Baker Hall at 5:30 p.m.