REGINA - In one of the last acts of the current City Council in Regina, they have approved the funding for the new Indoor Aquatic Facility at their final meeting of the term.
The vote was 9-2 on Wednesday in favour of approval of the project at the current estimate of $245.1 million, including the funding scenario recommended by administration. The new facility, located in the former Taylor Field area, would replace the aging Lawson Aquatic Centre.
The city had previously signed on to the funding agreement for the Indoor Aquatic Facility and the accompanying geothermal facility that would heat it, back in March. The project was confirmed at that time to receive $128.1 million from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program involving the Feds, province and the City of Regina.
But council was thrown for a loop this summer when the latest estimates for the project came in roughly $84 million higher than the original $160.7 million estimate.
Councillor Lori Bresciani, who is running for Mayor on a platform of fiscal responsibility, has voiced support for the idea of renovating Lawson Aquatic Centre and pursuing a second indoor aquatic facility elsewhere in the city, while seeking more provincial and federal funds for the latter project.
Bresciani attempted an amendment to that effect, citing the $84 million increase as a reason.
"I think we should look for regional economic dollars, I really do. And I don’t think it will delay the project either… I don't think it hurts to go and ask the questions as to what other funding is out there for regional economic. If there is an option to have two pools, I think it's better than one.”
But her proposal received major pushback from several delegations who appeared at the meeting representing various aquatic organizations in Regina.
“We have a plan, that meets the identified needs of the community in these previous reports,” said Rob Nelson. “The plan’s been building since at least 2010 and now is not the time to set us back years. If council chooses to change direction, renovate the Lawson, and find another location for the Aquatic Centre, what does that buy us and at what cost?”
“This is a false equivalency to compare a Lawson renovation to a new build,” was the reaction from Tracy Moser, President of Regina Piranhas Swim Club. “We are not living in reality if we think the Lawson can be renovated for the dollar figure and time frame being suggested.”
In the end, Bresciani acknowledged her proposed amendment was a no go, with no seconder.
Councillor Landon Mohl, in his final council meeting, made it known he thought the pool should be put to a referendum to see if voters supported the tax increase. But he also acknowledged they wouldn’t have time to do it. He ended up being the only other no vote along with Bresciani.
In the end, the rest of council remained firm in favour of approving the project. Councillor John Findura, in his final council meeting before leaving council, also voiced support, acknowledging the concern that if they delayed the project any more, the cost will simply go up.
“There are wins and losses but this is a win,” said Findura. “The cost of doing nothing is even more than actually doing something… we’ve had some wins, we need another one.”
Cheryl Stadnichuk, also at her final council meeting as she is not running again, made the motion on the indoor aquatic facility. “It will be extremely well used by everyone in our community and I think we will be all proud of this facility when it is built.”
Mayor Sandra Masters was pleased to see the Indoor Aquatic Facility issue finally settled.
“Three years in the making though, right?” said Masters in the media scrum. “So, I think between convincing both levels of government to allow us to use ICIP money, partnering with the University of Regina on the geothermal, which long-term saves us significant dollars in operating costs, and just delivering on a promise from 2009.
“So, it's a very old promise, and I can look back and be frustrated that, gosh, had it happened eight years earlier, it would have been less expensive, but the reality is it doesn't get cheaper. And you heard from the Aquatic community today, and I think I hear from a lot of parents and a lot of children about the importance of this type of facility to be centrally located, which is a piece of social inclusion. Swimming pools are one of those things that are the lowest barrier activities that folks can take part in, and so the significance for the city of Regina — as you heard, we haven't built one since 1990 (Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre). 34 years is a long time to wait.”
As for what is next for the project, Masters outlined to reporters what that would look like.
“So I think even back in August we said, don't reduce the scope, but come back to us and give us what the financing kind of looks like. And I think it's 0.4 per year over five years in order to build up both the financing as well as the operating. And the next steps are the continuation of what they're doing. And so now it's refining the detailed engineering and finishing with the value engineering that they're doing in order to bring some of those costs down.”
For sponsorship, Masters said that RFP is out and closes Oct. 16th. “So I think what you're going to see is we're going to end up looking for dollars for naming rights and for sponsorship within the building.
“So I think we're going to end up with some cash injection. I don't know how much, but I believe that to be true. And I think by sometime next year, perhaps a year from now, we're shovels in the ground.”
