Cary Tarasoff spoke at city council, raising some concerns about the Marquis Downs demolition. PHOTO BY BRODY LANGAGER / Saskatoon StarPhoenixArticle content
Saskatoon city council gave the final approval for Marquis Downs to be demolished in favour of a parking lot Wednesday, but not before facing criticism and calls for public consultation.
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Former mayoral candidate Cary Tarasoff claimed that the lease agreement between the city and Prairieland Park should be considered breached.
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The racetrack was damaged, Tarasoff said, adding that the city should have demanded that Prairieland Park fix Marquis Downs.
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“So, we should ask them to rebuild it the way it was supposed to according to the lease. And they haven’t been doing maintenance on the buildings, which is part of the lease,” Tarasoff said.
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The lease agreement says Prairieland Park is in charge of maintaining the exhibition grounds as well as things like the grandstand and horse barns, keeping them in good repair, besides what would be considered reasonable wear and tear.
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Tarasoff also wondered why there was no public consultation for the removal of the grandstand.
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“Why do you need a parking lot so urgently?”
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He claimed that some city councillors shouldn’t have been involved in voting on these issues due to their ties to Prairieland Park.
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“You can only have one master.”
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Bev Dubois is listed as a personal member in the Prairieland Park Corporation’s 2024 annual report. Troy Davies is listed in the 2019 annual report on the Prairieland Park Corporation’s board of directors as a City of Saskatoon representative.
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All members of council were in attendance Wednesday, but nobody recused themselves from the Marquis Downs topic due to a conflict of interest.
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Tarasoff suggested if there are grandstand safety issues, that a temporary fence be put up while undergoing public consultation.
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Nobody from council asked Tarasoff questions or responded to his comments, but Coun. Robert Pearce asked city administration if it was possible to have public consultation on the Marquis Downs demolition.
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“I’m looking at this, and I’m unimpressed with a parking lot,” Pearce said.
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It was noted that there is no requirement for public consultation, and nothing under the city’s lease agreement with Prairieland Park that would allow them to force public consultation.
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Darryl Dawson, city manager for the development review section, noted that future plans for land use from Prairieland Park will come at some point, and that will require further consultation.