Council will have its work cut out for it before it decides what to do with the city’s pools.
Dialog and Counsilman-Hunsaker Aquatics for Life assessed both the Aquatic Centre and the Four Seasons pool. Using professional, public, and stakeholder input, it presented Council with a report Monday night outlining who uses the facilities, their needs, and each building’s physical downfalls.
The Four Seasons major issue was its age. Residents suggested larger and family-oriented change rooms and easier access from the front door to the pools. The consultants recommended the Aquatic Centre have an additional 25-metre tank, larger family-oriented change rooms, viewing space, and gym, better accessibility and a waterslide.
The report had three suggestions. The first recommended demolishing and rebuilding the Four Seasons for $32.938 million. The second was the same as the first recommendation plus all the upgrades to the Aquatic Centre for $62.386 million. The third was to renovate the Aquatic Centre and close the Four Seasons for $36.944 million.
The consulting group strongly recommended the second.
Each councilor shared concerns about the costs. Councilor Brian Skakun knows Council has other expensive priorities like a new fire hall.
“(Upgrading the pools is) a huge cost but we know, as a Council, that we have to keep these facilities open. The problem with the Four Season is aging. We have to do something with it, we just have to figure out how we’re going to pay for it and if we want to go with all the bells and whistles that the consultant had laid out tonight.”
Before committing any money, Councillor Frank Everett feels Council needs to evaluate all renovation projects before committing the money.
“Council will look at all of the assessments of our facilities and then prioritize those and start a process in which when can start to replace some of those that are at their end.”
Many councilors, including Jillian Merrick and Terri McConnachie, suggested getting more public input as well.
At the very least, the consultants said that both roofs should be replaced. They said Four Seasons needs a new one by 2018 because of decaying wood which could also rust metals beams. The Aquatic Centre’s roof is “past is natural life” and need replacing. These two could cost an estimated $3.5 million.
For now, the report is going to city staff to explore more cost and renovation options.
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