Cost could kill cop shop project: Neis

By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News - January 30, 2008

Mayor Rosalind Neis predicts the cost to build Westside’s new public safety building will come in over budget, placing the $8.2 million project in jeopardy. But, Coun. Duane Ophus doesn’t share the mayor’s pessimism about the project. The mayor’s comments came on the heals of council’s decision to approve another $162,000 to redesign the planned Westside RCMP building in an attempt to cut down on its construction cost. Approximately $500,000 has already been spent on the design, according to the Central Okanagan Regional District, which is managing the Pamela Road project. But, the fact the Royal LePage Place arena’s construction is already well over budget doesn’t bode well for the future of the public safety building, said Neis. The arena project was also handled by CORD. “In light of recent developments of other buildings and structures, I don’t think (the police station) tender is going to come in under the right amount to proceed with the project,” said the mayor.

However, speculation is not reality, countered Ophus. “We just have to move the process along as quickly as is reasonable to do and make a decision based on full information in front of us…that’s what (council is trying) to do,” he said. But, according to the mayor, the police building can’t be constantly redesigned. “Then it would have to be redesigned again and again until they can make it small enough to be completely useless, (just) so it would come in under budget.”If the RCMP building cannot be constructed for $8.2 million or less, the municipality should be ready to explore other options, said Neis.“It can’t just be take this, and like it or leave it. I would like to see other options presented,” she argued. As an example, she suggested Westside could sell the Pamela Road site and use the money to find a larger property for a joint-use, fire and police facility. Last week, she publicly suggested a joint police detachment and fire hall building be pursued.Ophus believes the current process should be allowed to run its full course because the public seems to be in general support of the project.“Part of the reason why there wasn’t much reaction to the alternate approval process is because it is a public safety building,” he said.

“It is a priority for a lot of people to have a properly functioning protective service.” According to Coun. David Knowles, the $8.2 million approved under the controversial alternative approval process— where residents had to register disapproval rather than approval and meet a preset standard—included contingencies and design costs leaving about $7 million for actual construction.The regional district’s point man on the project is Gary Leier. He did not return a call before press deadline to break down the building costs.