City seeks public support for pool plans

By JOHN MOORHOUSE Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Penticton city council is now looking to the public for approval to borrow up to $7.4 million for a proposed expansion of the Penticton community centre pool. Unless at least 2,660 city residents (10 per cent of eligible voters) sign a counter-petition by April 27 to force a referendum on the issue, the city will be in a legal position to borrow the approximate one-third local share of the funding. The project is contingent on the city receiving federal-provincial funding for two-thirds of the estimated $23.8-million total cost. If a grant is not approved, the project will not proceed. The public will get an opportunity to view plans for the pool expansion at a pair of open houses at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mayor Dan Ashton said Monday it‘s necessary to proceed with the alternate approval process now, to be ready if the city gains senior government funding. Ashton said although council has been looking to cut back on budget expenses this year, the pool grant represents an opportunity it can‘t afford to pass up - even as council looks to keep tax increases to a minimum in this year‘s budget. “If you could buy a house for one-third the price today, would you not borrow off your uncle to do it?” he said. “That‘s what council is doing.”

Although the city also faces 10 years of payments for the local share of funding for the South Okanagan Events Centre, Ashton said extra money for the pool is still affordable. “Yes, we can afford it, if it‘s two-thirds (senior government) dollars,” he said. “A (municipal) government would not be very studious if it was not looking at that opportunity.” The mayor noted the community centre pool, which opened in 1981, is the most heavily utilized city facility and is now in real need of an upgrade. “It‘s a very high-use facility and a very well-worn facility, in the sense that it does need upgrades,” he said. Council has approved $30,000 to hire architects and consultants to develop the concept and business plans for the project. Representatives and city staff will be on hand at Wednesday‘s open houses to answer questions from the public. The expansion plans include a new family leisure pool to be added to the east of the existing pool, which would then be enlarged to a 10-lane, 25-metre facility. Bigger change rooms and an improved public viewing area are also planned. The warmer leisure pool is to include more play features and learn-to-swim programs will be expanded. There will also be more training time available in the length pool for endurance swimming.

City clerk Cathy Ingram said the province has given the city authorization to borrow the $7.4 million, to be paid back over 20 years. Taxes would increase by 2.6 per cent starting in 2010. The money will not be borrowed until after the city receives confirmation of the senior government grant. The first announcement of communities receiving funding is expected in mid-April. A second intake of grant applications will be accepted until April 24. A separate $500,000 federal grant has already been received to improve energy efficiency at the community centre. This funding will be included in the pool project, but will remain available even if the city‘s expansion grant application is rejected. Counter-petitions for the alternate approval process are available at City Hall or on the city‘s website at www.penticton.ca.