City-Owned Golf Courses

City-owned Golf Courses

Public Hearing : May 13, 2021 Winnipeg Executive Policy Committee will vote on city planning documents containing policy enabling the removal of public greenspace on the map even as Winnipeg's population is growing.
Draft Plans https://winnipeg.ca/interhom/CityHall/OurWinnipeg/2045.stm
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The City of Winnipeg Executive Policy Committee will vote on two City Planning Documents that will actually decrease greenspace over the next 25 years even as the city population increases.

The city-owned golf lands are once again threatened by both large and small scale development.

There are currently two serious threats to the golf course lands

Plan to Repurpose Golf Lands approved in 2020 Budget - Consultant selected to write Strategy by late spring. Report due December 2021.
City planning documents - OurWinnipeg 2045 and Complete Communities enable ad hoc development on all of City's large greenspaces over 25 year vision . Next step is pubic hearing, Spring 2021. Read More ...

The golf lands are zoned PR (park land) and are not intended for development. The Winnipeg Charter has special protection for PR land that requires a two thirds vote of all of Council protecting it from disposal.

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Threat to golf lands!

1.City Planning Documents (See protect our Parks page for details)
2. City is seeking bids to write a proposal for a plan on how to re purpose up to 30% of the public golf lands. Development on golf lands is an option.

Bids due March 11, 2021
Final report due December 2021.

We see the Sam Katz plan to sell city golf course lands revived as part of the proposed Re purposing Golf Lands Plan and the Transformative Fund as approved in the 2020 City Budget.

Development options could potentially encompass an entire golf course(s) or be multiple small developments . Golf lands are zoned park land and are part of Winnipeg's greenspace and natural heritage.

Winnipeg at 6% is below average in the amount of city area that is park land compared to 9% average of Canadian cities. The city needs more greenspace not less.

The city's 12 publicly owned  golf courses are zoned parkland, and comprise less than 1% of total city area.

The City of Winnipeg Multi-year Budget passed on March 20, 2020 by City Council approved a Transformative Fund and a Report for Re purposing  up to 30% of Golf Lands. Winnipeg does not need another fund.

The new fund  will be supported from the sale of assets deemed surplus to the City's needs, such as golf lands.

The “Transformative Fund” approved by the City in the 2020 Capital and Operating Budget

The Transformative Fund is a new reserve fund that is to acquire funding from the sale of golf lands and other city owned assets deemed surplus.
“reinvestment” of capital assets (golf land) into services and deficit reduction
City proposes that the John Blumberg Golf Course will be a funding source for the Transformative Fund from either the sale of the golf course or a joint venture with the City.

Repurposing Golf Lands Report (park zoned lands) to allow up to 30% of golf lands to be repurposed. (Study approved by City in 2020 Capital and Operating Budget)

$200,000 allocated for consultant to lead process
option for residential development on golf lands
reduction of pubic greenspace
We question how the amount of 30% of golf lands available for rerepurposing was determined.
Citizens expect evidence based policy decisions and the 30% of golf lands is not validated by evidence.
“reinvestment” of capital assets (golf land) into services and deficit reduction
Consultants Report due Dec 2021

Golf Services Special Operating Agency has a balanced budget and forecasts a balanced budget for the multi-year budget to 2023 and now the City is proposing to sell some of its publicly owned golf lands for residential development. Media is still reporting a deficit, in error.

Note that

Golf lands provide year round health and recreation opportunities
Golf lands provide year round services to the environment - climate change mitigation and resilience, storm water retention and heat absorption in summer, habitat, natural areas for birds
More parkland (not less) will be needed to accommodate increased population density in infill areas where golf courses are OURS-Winnipeg requests that the residential development option be removed from the repurpose proposal for golf lands mostly located

Summary of Requests by OURS-Winnipeg

1. OURS-Winnipeg requests that the residential development option be removed from the repurpose proposal for golf lands
2. OURS-Winnipeg requests that the proposed re-purposing of city golf lands be halted until a Master Plan for Greenspace is completed.

Instead of a report to repurpose golf courses with residential development Winnipeg should first have an understanding of how these spaces contribute to biodiversity, climate change mitigation and access to nature for a growing population.

References to Transformative Fund 2020 Budget

12 Public Golf Courses owned by City of Winnipeg

located in neighbourhoods mostly along river corridors.
golf course lands support a significant ecological network providing Winnipeggers and visitors with many benefits
The 2020 season has seen golf rounds on city-operated golf course up significantly over the previous year. New golfers, new leagues, more juniors.
Golf Services Special Operating Agency had a balanced budget since 2017 and forecasts same for multi-year budget to 2023.
Golf courses generate close to $650,000 a year in revenue for the city from rent, leases, taxes and additional revenue from surpluses
The golf courses area a good deal for the City. The City can't afford to maintain greenspace. Golf courses preserve green space without cost to the City while providing revenue
Provides ecosystem services of storm water retention, heat mitigation, habitat, health benefits
6% of Winnipeg's total city area is public park land, compared to the average of Canadian cities at 9%
Golf course lands make up 1% of total city area and adding them to parkland could increase total park area to 7%
Many of the golf courses are well used by the public in the off season and more use is possible
The golf course lands are some of the city's nicest parks and must not be developed or sold.
City golf is affordable, accessible, good value and harmonizes with the private golf industry providing a supply of players as golfers move to private clubs
The golf course lands have been acquired over the past 100 years and belong to the citizens of Winnipeg
Golf is good for your health
Golf is a beneficial activity for all ages from juniors to seniors

OURS-Winnipeg originated in December 2011 in response to a plan by the City of Winnipeg to make seven of the city-owned golf courses available for sale or lease for commercial or residential development. A public campaign to have the Expression of Interest withdrawn was successful.