Council confusion over square cost

Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News Published: February 24, 2010 2:00 AM

Several Coquitlam councillors are questioning the cost of the city’s Spirit Square, a $2.7-million plaza being built next to city hall. After The Tri-City News published two articles about the project last week, some councillors have expressed confusion over the cost of the project and have now asked staff to outline the complete budget for the square. “I am not happy,” said Coun. Selina Robinson, who was not on council when the project was approved. “I have some concerns and I want to see the whole budget.” Robinson said she was under the impression the project cost $1.6 million and that the $745,000 in engineering, design and contract administration was included in that price. But according to a report dated July 8, 2009 that recommended awarding the contract for the Spirit Square to Bynett Construction, the city had already spent $745,000 on the project. The additional funds, the report said, were on top of the $1.6-million contract and were used to cover the costs of contract administration, design and public art.

“We have questioned this,” said Coun. Mae Reid, who was on council when the project was okayed. “I didn’t think the figures were correct... It doesn’t make sense to me.” Even if the $745,000 in design and $1.6 million for construction costs are accurate, that only totals close to $2.3 million, $400,000 short of the expected $2.7 million overall budget. Reid said she believes the engineering and design costs came out of an initial plan to put underground parking underneath the Spirit Square. “I’m wondering if all those costs got stuck in the Spirit Square,” she said. The city first requested funding from the provincial government for the square in 2007. According to a city staff report, the city allocated $2.2 million for the project, with the provincial government promising $500,000 in August 2007 as part of its Spirit Square grant program.

Coun. Lou Sekora was the only council member to vote, in February 2007, against initial funding request to the provincial government and said he was also under the impression the project would cost $1.6 million. “Council was not made aware of these costs,” he said. “We had these airy-fairy prices and then it came down to $1.6 million.” The province’s Spirit Square funding program was born out of the province’s 150th anniversary celebrations. It was aimed at enhancing outdoor public spaces in communities across B.C., in order to facilitate outdoor events and Olympic celebrations. The $500,000 the province gave Coquitlam was contingent on the Spirit Square being completed by Oct. 31, 2009. The city asked for an received an extension for the project, which is now expected to be open some time this spring. Last week, Mayor Richard Stewart, who was a city councillor when the Spirit Square was approved in 2007, told The Tri-City News: “I am still not pleased with the cost of it. But this wasn’t for the Olympics, it was for our community. At the end of the day, we end up with a very nice city square that will serve the community for generations to come.” And the city’s communications manager said “substantial completion” of the Spirit Square is expected in March 2010.