Council agrees to temporary Open Streets manager, caps cost at $30K

Open Streets will be back again this year after the event bypassed a few barriers at council, including a debate about the cost of hiring a temporary manager.

Discussion around the day where main streets are closed to traffic to allow people to bike, walk and run lasted almost an hour Monday night.

At the heart of the debate was a recommendation from the city's administration that a temporary project manager be hired to oversee the event.

The report to council suggested the contract would run for four months and could cost between $20,000 and $30,0000.

Coun. Fred Francis put forward a motion to ensure there's a cap of $30,000 for the role.

"Usually under the financial matters, it's spelled out how much the projected cost will be," he explained. "I think with this one what was a little surprising, at least for me ... is that that wasn't there, so I was being asked for a budget."

Open Streets will be a one-day event this year, compared to the two days where roads were closed last year.

The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday Sept. 17.