Vernon, BC, this weekend Residents approved borrowing up to $121 million to build a new leisure centre in a vote.
The outcome of the vote brought the planned Active Living Center a lot closer to reality.
However, now that the project is officially moving forward there are also new political questions about the future of recreation facilities in Greater Vernon.
A vote on the Active Living Center proposal was held earlier this year, but outlying communities around the City of Vernon chose not to participate.
The project’s borrowing costs will be borne by Vernon residents, who will also pay increased property taxes as a result.
The City of Vernon made a commitment to Vernon taxpayers during the referendum that they would get lower rates at the new facility and priority registration for classes. ”
So now that the referendum has passed, it raises questions about whether or not Electoral Areas B and C and the District of Coldstream may reconsider their financial participation in the project.
Vernon’s current pool is what the four governments (Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas B and C) are paying for.
As a result, if the vote passes, a political debate on what to do with the current facilities will start.
The City of Vernon said a feasibility study recommended that if the new Active Living Centre is built, the existing pool should be decommissioned.
The City of Vernon will be working behind the scenes to make the Active Living Centre a reality while these political issues are still up for debate.
The planned timeline is to start a request for proposals process this fall, followed by final design work starting in 2023 and construction beginning in 2024.
“Now that we have approval from citizens to move forward with the project, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get going,” Doug Ross the city’s director of recreation services said.
In 2026, the Active Living Center is anticipated to be finished.
B.C.’s Vernon rec centre referendum results raise new political questions
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