TAMRMS#: B06
11.2
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Children’s Bridge Lighting
Notice given by: Councillor Korotash
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PROPOSED MOTION(S):
recommendation
That Council cancel the Children’s Bridge lighting component of CULT-005.
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ADMINISTRATION’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT OF THE MOTION
That the bridge lighting budget in CULT‑005 will be removed while retaining the power component budget.
ADMINISTRATION’S RECOMMENDATION
Administration recommends that the motion be amended to include wording related to the amount of funds that would be returned to the Capital Reserve:
That Council cancel the Children’s Bridge lighting component of CULT-005 and that $108,000 be returned to the Capital Reserve.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of this report is to present a motion for which Councillor Korotash gave notice on May 19, 2026.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On June 17, 2025 Council passed the following motions:
AR-25-272
That the budget for capital project 424317, Founders Walk Phase III (CULTR-005) be increased from $108,000 to $210,000 to be funded from the Capital Reserve.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The 2024 CULTR-005 Founders Walk Phase III Capital Charter, for $108,000, included lighting enhancements for the Children’s Bridge, consisting of undercarriage accent lighting, upward accent lighting, and pedestrian walkway lighting and was approved in 2023.
The CULTR-005 Children’s Bridge lighting project was aligned with Engineering’s Children’s Bridge RMR work and planned to be delivered through the same contract, creating efficiencies in delivery and reducing duplication of effort.
In June of 2025, Administration requested an additional $102,000 (AR-25-272) to cover the required change in project scope. The original project scope did not include power to the bridge, as Administration had planned to coordinate that work with the anticipated Millennium Park construction for greater efficiency. When the Millennium Park growth charter was rescinded, additional funding was required to provide power to the bridge. Administration recommends retaining this additional amount for power installation.
The integration of new programmable bridge lighting would mark special events, dates, occasions and be utilized for public enjoyment. See C-CAO-19 Flag Display and Commemorative Lighting Policy.
The consideration of integrating lighting into Children’s Bridge structure was being coordinated with work in progress to perform repair and maintenance to the structure (approved funding through Charter ENGS-042). Work to date has included the design of the structure’s repair and replacement components with incorporated lighting. Although there is no immediate impact of this motion to the design of the handrail, if the lighting component is removed it may be substantially more difficult and costly to install at a later date (if lighting were desired in the future).
The handrail designed and expected to replace the existing handrail through scope of the RMR work will meet all requirements with or without lighting. The issue(s) of future consideration are associated with future installations of wiring for power to lights and the drilling of holes for the lighting features. The coordination of the lighting work and initial RMR construction that is delivering the new railing system (where lighting is being installed) allows for the lighting to be considered and integrated with the design and the fabrication of the railing can now account for the appropriate drill holes and accommodation for wiring and lights. Future effort to install lighting would likely require the railing system to be cut and removed off-site to be fitted for lighting. Consideration of preparing the rail for lighting, but not installing the lighting now (with RMR work) is not recommended, as holes would leave opening and any consideration of wiring installed without the actual lighting system could lead to vandalism and theft of infrastructure.
IMPACTS OF MOTION
Financial:
If approved $108,000 would be returned to the Capital Reserve to be used for future Council approved capital projects.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
The cancellation of the Children’s Bridge lighting project would impact the intent of the lighting to provide a focal point to celebrate a landmark and significant days and events, reducing its ability to serve as a vibrant focal point for commemorations and celebration.
Organizational:
Plans to include lighting of Children’s Bridge as part of RMR/Capital work planned for 2026/2027 would be discontinued.
Risks
• An identified node of the Founder’s Walk project intended to highlight a city landmark, the Children’s Bridge, would remain incomplete.
• Previously allocated resources and efforts would not yield the intended benefits, reducing the overall impact of the project.
• The project’s intended goals, such as improved visual aesthetics and community celebration, would not be realized.
• The railing is anticipated to allow for future lighting consideration, but if lighting is installed in the future, it will require reapplication for all appropriate environmental work permits to be performing work on the bridge and cost efficiencies of performing the work as part of broader / larger scope may be lost as a stand alone lighting project.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Downtown Vibrancy.
Item aligned to Strategic Plan:
None at this time
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
B.1.1 City Delivered Events
B.3.1 Cultural Programming
ALTERNATIVES
If Council does not wish to support the proposed motion, Administration presents the following alternatives for Council’s consideration.
Alternative 1:
That both power and lighting are removed from the Children’s Bridge project CULT-005 and that $210,000 is returned to the Capital Reserve.
Financial:
If approved, $210,000 would be returned to the capital reserve to be used for future Council approved capital projects.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
The cancellation of the Children’s Bridge lighting project would impact the intent of the lighting to provide a focal point to celebrate a landmark and significant days and events, reducing its ability to serve as a vibrant focal point for commemorations and celebration.
With power being removed with the lighting, use of generators would continue for festivals and events, along with associated costs, noise and environmental impacts.
Organizational:
Plans to include lighting and power to the Children’s Bridge as part of RMR/Capital work planned for 2026/2027 would be discontinued.
Risks
• An identified node of the Founder’s Walk project intended to highlight a city landmark, the Children’s Bridge, would remain incomplete.
• Previously allocated resources and efforts would not yield the intended benefits, reducing the overall impact of the project.
• The project’s intended goals, such as improved visual aesthetics and community celebration, would not be realized.
• The railing is anticipated to allow for future lighting consideration, but if lighting is installed in the future, it will require reapplication for all appropriate environmental work permits to be performing work on the bridge and cost efficiencies of performing the work as part of broader / larger scope may be lost as a stand alone lighting project.
• If power was removed with the lighting, use of generators would continue for festivals and events, along with associated costs, noise and environmental impacts. Impromptu use of temporary infrastructure requiring power would not be able to be supported.
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Report Date: June 16, 2026
Author: Adam Turnbull
Department: Community Services
Department Director: Elizabeth Budd
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher