Terrace city council passed resolutions to start the process to borrow up to $4 million for the Terrace Aquatic Centre Renewal Project and to award the project contract to Viking Construction as the lowest bidder at a special council meeting at noon today, March 9.
The city made this announcement and more in a release early this afternoon after the meeting.
Grant funding toward the project includes $4,325,430 from UBCM’s Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund awarded to the City in the spring of 2016, as well as a contribution from Northern Development Initiative Trust, said the release.
Operational savings from the city and Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine due to the closure of the facility during construction will amount to $430,000 and will also be applied to the project, continued the release.
The total expected cost for the project including construction, contingency fees, professional fees, and improvements to the parking area and the addition of energy-efficient lighting in the upgraded facility is $8.8 million.
The City’s application for the Gas Tax funding was based on a Facility Review/Assessment that was completed in 2012. The application was to renew the critical operating components and upgrade the facility and was based on a Class D cost estimate that was submitted with the application.
In 2016, prior to applying for this grant, council had already committed $2.9 million in upgrades to the facility in the Five-Year Financial Plan.
These upgrades are now amalgamated into the project to take advantage of the external funding that the city has received for the renovations.
The scope of the project has changed since the submission of the city's application for Gas Tax funding. The change in scope is in response to the Open House sessions that were held last year to get public input on the project, and from the feedback received during the development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, also completed in 2016.
In September 2016, Council approved a preliminary design plan that included a number of extra features over and above the replacement of the critical operating components, including a lazy river with spray features in a larger Leisure Pool, an increase in size to the fitness room, and others.
The City of Terrace has worked closely with the regional district through the development of the project as the Terrace Aquatic Centre services not just the city but the Greater Terrace Area.
The regional district has historically contributed approximately 30 per cent towards the operations of the facility and will be considering its level of commitment to the debt repayment of the loan at its next board meeting on March 24.
“Leveraging the grant funding already received by committing to borrowing means the final product will be a fully renovated, modernized and enhanced facility with more longevity and usability for the citizens of the Greater Terrace Area. It will also mean fewer service disruptions, less minor renovations, and comparatively fewer added costs down the road.” said mayor Carol Leclerc.