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29
Oct

DWBIA Files Freedom of Information Access Request for Pelissier Parking Garage

Earlier this year the Downtown Windsor BIA launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds to offset the costs of a Freedom of Information access request pertaining to the Pelissier Street Parking Garage. Through generous community support, the GoFundMe Campaign raised in excess of $4,000 and, consequently, the DWBIA’s Board of Directors recently voted in favour of contributing the remaining balance of $7,200 in order to file the request.

The original request had a price tag of $13,672.20. Subsequently, the DWBIA appealed for the provision of electronic records which resulted in the fees being reduced to $11,266. However, municipal administration has advised the DWBIA that the search and detailed review of the documents has not yet been completed, and as such no final decision has been made regarding access. In addition, municipal administration anticipates that only partial access to the records will be granted; that the City may rely on Sections 7, 10 and 14 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and estimate that 75% of the responsive records will be subject to severing. The City has also given the DWBIA notice of its intention to exercise an extension of the general 30 days to complete the request pursuant to section 20 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The City reasoned the discretionary extension based on the large number of records involved in the request. 

The DWBIA’s access request seeks from the City of Windsor all communication, including but not limited to email and text message exchanges, notes and records between members of Administration and members of City Council which led to the Pelissier Street Parking Garage report dated March 25, 2015 (Read Report #17284APM2015). The request was placed to better understand the rationale and reasoning behind Council’s decision to eliminate ground floor commercial lease space at the Pelissier Street Parking Garage as it contradicted a 2016 Council decision to retain the existing commercial spaces at the Garage, and conflicted with the advice and expertise of urban planners, architects, residents, and the downtown business community at large. 

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Assistant Editor