Kelowna Legacy Aquatic Centre

[DuaneT]

I also will be adding my voice ;D to the thousands of people who support this project. For a long time Kelowna has needed another aquatic center with a 50 meter pool and diving tower. And now with the added waterpark we will have another place to take our children all year around, rain or shine. Plus building it with the Capital News Center is a great idea. Once this recreational facility is complete, the City of Kelowna will be the envy of BC if not Canada. It is time Kelowna become pro-active in developing recreational facilities instead of re-active to the recreational needs of the community. We are thinking for the future here and that is what is needed to make a great city. I hope the city speeds up the construction of the entire center as it will bring tourist dollars to this city.

So I urge the citizens of this community NOT to sign the petition, and let’s build this facility for all to enjoy.

[DuaneT]

Borrowing Bylaw Proceeds to Council: Legacy Aquatic Centre
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City Council is scheduled to receive the Certificate of Sufficiency and consider final adoption of the Legacy Aquatic Centre Construction Loan Authorization Bylaw at its regular afternoon meeting on July 11th at 1:30 p.m.
The bylaw was the subject of an Alternative Approval Process, held between May 17th and June 30th, 2005, that allowed electors to petition against the City's intention to borrow $20 million to help finance the aquatic facility.

Had a minimum of 10% of eligible electors (8,208) signed an Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Form opposing the bylaw, City Council would not have been able to proceed with bylaw adoption. However, since the minimum number of valid signatures was not achieved (1,765 valid signatures were verified by the City Clerk's Division), City Council may now give the bylaw fourth reading and consider final adoption.

Staff will present a full report to Council at the Monday meeting outlining subsequent steps available, should Council decide to authorize the borrowing bylaw. Should bylaw adoption occur, it is expected a Request for Proposals will be issued in late July, 2005 to three pre-qualified design-build teams.

Plans call for the Legacy Aquatic Centre to be built in Mission Recreation Park featuring a 50-metre swimming pool, a large leisure water park, a new fitness centre and related commercial space. The City's goal is to have the Centre fully operational in time for the BC Summer Games slated to be held in Kelowna in July, 2008.

The annual property tax impact would be approximately 4%; this represents an additional $55 (or $4.58 per month) on the municipal portion of property taxes for an average single family house valued at $300,000 in 2005 at current tax rates. Full impact of the 4% taxation increase will not occur before 2008.

A series of eight Open Houses and mall displays were held in April and May to help the public understand the scope of the project, the Financing Plan and the public approval process. Approximately 1,500 people attended; the website was also used extensively with approximately 5,700 visits representing 229,000 hits during March, April, May and June.

For more information visit www.kelowna.ca, call 469-8813 or e-mail [e-mail].

[sebastianandwisla]

So it's a go?

[DuaneT]

City council will have to vote on the Legacy Aquatic Centre Construction Loan Authorization Bylaw at its regular afternoon meeting on July 11th at 1:30 p.m.

Once that is approval then it will be considered a done deal and the job can go out to tender to three pre-qualified design teams.

Here is all the details in Castanet, towards the bottom of the page
www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=10539&page=1#10539

[sebastianandwisla]

Well then I'm guessing, anything bad permiting, it's a go.

[DuaneT]

Aquatic Centre Construction Loan

City Council authorized the borrowing of $20 million for construction of the Aquatic Centre in Mission Recreation Park which would include a 50 m swimming pool and leisure waterpark facility.

[DuaneT]

City Council approved the new Stadium Complex Phasing and Financial Plan that enables the City to receive a $1.5 million grant from the provincial government for the new stadium complex planned for Mission Recreation Park. The project will include two natural grass sports fields, primarily for soccer, and one multi-use artificial turf sports field. The artificial turf field should be ready to use in 2006 and the two natural grass fields should be ready for use in 2007. Stadium seating would be added in 2008.

[DuaneT]

Partner/Operator Selected for Aquatic Centre
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News Release
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City Council has authorized staff to begin negotiations with the Leisure Recreation Group to establish a Partner / Operator Agreement for the Aquatic Centre in Mission Recreation Park.

Council previously authorized staff to conduct a request for proposal (RFP) process for the search and selection of a partner/operator. The RFP was issued by the City on February 24, 2005 and two proposals were received:


Leisure Recreation Group (LRG)
YMCA / YWCA of the Central Okanagan (the Y)

A selection committee, comprised of five members of City staff, thoroughly examined the proposals using evaluation techniques designed to effectively weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each proponent on criteria such as financial proposal, partnership concept, program features and capacity and risk analysis.

Leisure Recreation Group was identified as the preferred proponent and City staff will now enter into detailed negotiations with LRG in order to establish a legal agreement. The RFP issued by the City and all proposal information received from LRG will form the basis for negotiations for each phase of the agreement.

Part One - Consulting Services
1. Pre-planning - The preparation of the facility concept plan, market and traffic analysis and the preliminary operating budget.

Part Two - Management Services
2. Pre-opening -- The preparation of facility operating and management systems, formal operating budget, marketing plans, program plan and staffing models.

3. Initial Operating Period - The first operating cycle during which management and operating practices and procedures are refined and performance thresholds established.

4. Ongoing Operations - The operating cycles following the initial operating period including adjusted operating budget.

The agreement will be constructed so that the City can provide direction and/or decide upon the future of the facility at various points throughout the development process.

Staff will report to Council on the progress of negotiations at appropriate milestone points. It is important to note that should acceptable terms not be negotiated with LRG, staff will report to Council regarding the next stage of initiating negotiations with the YMCA / YWCA of the Central Okanagan.

It is also important to note that the YMCA / YWCA of the Central Okanagan continues to operate the Kelowna Family Y / Athans Pool in Rutland Recreation Park. The very successful partnership between the City and the Y for the Rutland facility will not be affected.

[DuaneT]

Aquatic Centre - Request for Proposals Issued
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The next step in the development of the Aquatic Centre for Mission Recreation Park is underway. City Council has authorized staff to issue a Request for Proposal to three design-build teams that were selected during a pre-qualification process earlier this year. The three teams are:


PCL Contractors Westcoast Inc.
Ledcor Design-Build (BC) Inc.
Septra Projects Ltd.
The Request for Proposal was released today, September 29, 2005. The RFP will close on January 12, 2006, and it is expected a recommendation on the successful proponent will be provided to Council by the end of February 2006. The recommendation will be submitted by an evaluation committee comprised of senior City staff and two consultants experienced in public/private partnerships and cost consulting.

Pending Council's review and approval, a design-build contract award is scheduled for Council authorization by approximately mid- April 2006.

The Request for Proposal document is available for public review at City Hall in the City Clerk's office, in the Parks and Leisure Services office in the City Park pavilion and on the City's website. Visit www.kelowna.ca and click on the link under Highlights, or visit www.missionrecreationpark.ca.

The scope and scale of the aquatic centre project has generated considerable complexity and attention to detail, necessitating a two volume RFP document. The RFP establishes important details of the facility and sets out the business terms and business relationship with the selected proponent.

[DuaneT]

Friday on the CKOV John Michael’s radio show featuring Rick Shea of the CRCP as a guest, the discussions revolved around the Alternative Approval Process (APP) of the pool and CRCP / ASK campaign against the use of APP citing anti-democratic underpinnings. Closer to the end of the show, John Zeger, head of the CRCP called in to relate, rant, and rave his view of the process and how we all should be against it. John Michael’s asked him point blank “John, are you in favor of the pool?” John refused to answer the question and instead entertained us all with his famous double talk. Repeatedly, John was asked the question and each and every time he refused to answer this simple question instead favouring to rant and rave about the APP itself. As a result John Michael just terminated the call. This just goes to show everyone that John Zeger gives the appearance of a two faced individual and simply will not state his position on anything that might damage his focused campaign of anti-growth. Congratulations John, you managed to become a typical stereotyped seasoned politician that everyone complains they can’t trust. Well done.

[DuaneT]

After reading the Capital News "Our View" editorial Wednesday night it became very clear that John Zeger and the CRCP have a different view on what democracy is. They have been complaining, up and down, left and right, about the Alternate Approval Process and how it is an unfair system and what do they do? They go on the radio broadcasting their "campaign" firstly against the AAP and then secondly against the pool project pleading to the citizens to make a stand against the AAP by signing the form. Then they do a Capital News insert campaign (7,000 pieces) targeting ONLY Glenmore and Rutland (according to Capital News) and NOT Mission. It would appear, in our opinion, that the CRCP is subverting the AAP process by making it about the process itself and NOT about the pool by deliberately "skipping" Mission with their insert campaign. . Even John Zeger on CKOV refused to answer whether he was for the pool or not! So the question beckons, how are they supporting democracy?

[KevDreger]

That's ridiculous. A little interesting how he would exclude the mission from participating in the campaign. I don't respect that man haha.

[DuaneT]

AAP RESULTS ANNOUNCED: AQUATIC CENTRE BORROWING BYLAW TO PROCEED TO COUNCIL
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Oct. 12, 2006
News Release
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The City Clerk's Office has determined that 4,521valid signatures were received in the Alternative Approval Process recently held regarding the Aquatic Centre in Mission Recreation Park. Had a minimum of 10% of eligible electors (8,208) signed an Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Form, City Council would not have been able to proceed with the borrowing bylaw necessary to help finance the $44.1 million facility.
Staff will present a full report to Council at the next scheduled meeting on Monday October 16th. Since an insufficient number of signatures was received, City Council is expected to receive the Certificate of Sufficiency report and consider final adoption of Bylaw No. 9654, being Amendment No. 1 to Mission Recreation Park (Legacy) Aquatic Centre Construction Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9359.

As permitted under the Community Charter, Council authorized use of the Alternative Approval Process on August 21, 2006 to seek elector approval to borrow $29.5 million. The Alternative Approval Process ran from August 22, 2006 to October 10, 2006.

The financing plan will result in an average annual property tax impact of 4.91% as of 2009. The financing plan includes City funds ($9.6 million), debenture borrowing ($29.5 million), as well as a $5 million grant received from the province from the Major Regional Sports Facilities Initiative.

Plans for the aquatic centre include a 50-metre swimming pool to accommodate a variety of recreational activities and all aquatic sports, a large leisure water park including a wave pool, children's play area and river run, as well as a major new fitness centre.

[DuaneT]

Mission Recreation Park - Aquatic Centre
The Design-Build Contract for the Mission Recreation Park Aquatic Centre was approved by City Council. The 100,000 sq. ft. facility will include a 50 metre pool, fitness studio and exercise rooms, and a leisure indoor water park. Construction will be handled by PCL Westcoast Constructors Inc. and is expected to be complete by December 2008.

[DuaneT]

Aquatic Centre Open House
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Feb. 09, 2007
New Release
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The City is hosting an Open House at the Capital News Centre on development of the Aquatic Centre at Mission Recreation Park. City staff will be available to provide information and answer questions.

Thursday February 15, 2007
5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Capital News Centre, Mission Recreation Park
4105 Gordon Drive


AQUATIC CENTRE PUBLIC DISPLAYS
Display panels, which highlight the Aquatic Centre's design and features, will be in place for six weeks from February 19 until March 30, 2007 for the public to review at various locations around the city:
Parkinson Recreation Centre - 1800 Parkinson Way
Mission Library - 3818 Gordon Drive
Rutland Arena - 645 Dodd Road
Kelowna Downtown Library - 1380 Ellis Street
Capri Centre Mall - 1835 Gordon Drive


The Aquatic Centre will include a 50-metre swimming pool to accommodate a variety of recreational activities and all aquatic sports, a large leisure water park including a wave pool, three water slides, a children's play area and river run, as well as a major new fitness centre. It is expected the facility will open to the public in December 2008.