With expenses increasing and revenues in short supply for the new outdoor pool project, most members of city council believe city hall should construct the venue adjacent to the Kinsmen Sportsplex.
City administration has pegged the new aquatic centre’s total cost at just over $13 million, with construction at $12.5 million. This venue will replace the 1966-built Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool, which has been serving the community for 58 years — about 28 years longer than most pools’ lifespans.
The current pool’s mechanical systems are nearly done, while any major failures will likely result in city hall permanently closing it, a budget report said.
The parks and recreation department has closed the pool often during the past few years because of issues with an aging filtration system. The basin has also experienced leaks, the underground piping is unrepairable and water consumption has doubled to 13,000 cubic metres from 6,500 cubic metres.
Furthermore, the outdoor pool and Natatorium have the second-highest operating costs of five major city-owned recreation venues, with total subsidies of $349,642 and 16-per-cent cost recovery, the report said.
In comparison, the Kinsmen Sportsplex indoor pool has the highest operating costs at $1.2 million and a 36-per-cent cost recovery.
The report noted that if the outdoor pool closes, the municipality will have to spend roughly $110,000 annually to keep the Natatorium maintained and heated.
City administration suggested that combining the Nat’s restoration with the new pool’s construction could save money and reduce both projects to $15 million. As it stands, the Natatorium requires $10 million to $20 million in renovations, while the new pool is $12.5 million.
During the 2024 budget discussions, city administration suggested spending $35,000 to complete a feasibility assessment about re-purposing the Natatorium and retaining its exterior façade and heritage features.
It also suggested spending $10,000 to hire a grant writer to find funding for the current pool’s replacement.
Other options included demolishing the Natatorium — requiring the removal of its heritage status — and constructing the new outdoor pool changeroom on that space, moving the aquatic centre to the Sportsplex site — and saving $4 million to $6 million in construction costs — or not allocating any money in 2024.
It was the second alternative option that generated the most discussion on council, considering crafting an acceptable 2024 budget proved difficult due to fewer revenues and inflation-driven expenses.
While not allocating any money this year was the best option for Coun. Heather Eby, she said it was important to have this report so the topic stayed on council’s mind and assured residents that a new pool hadn’t fallen off the radar.
Moreover, after reading several project reports, she believed the new pool needed to be built adjacent to the Kinsmen, especially if it saved the city millions of dollars.
Coun. Crystal Froese appreciated seeing the new pool’s design drawings since it helped excite residents with what the venue could look like. Moreover, everyone with whom she’s spoken has been “adamant” that the pool needs to stay in Crescent Park.
Meanwhile, she appreciated the idea of retaining the Natatorium’s heritage aspects, considering city hall had exhausted almost all possible restoration possibilities and there was no interest in remediation because of prohibitive costs — which only increased the longer the building sat unused.
Froese noted that the National Trust of Canada has listed the Nat as one of the top 10 endangered heritage buildings in Canada. She added that the community will likely “breathe a sigh of relief” knowing council is doing something with the Natatorium.
Council would be “derelict in (its) duty” if it didn’t consider the “synergies and economies of scale” of building the aquatic centre adjacent to the Sportsplex, said Coun. Kim Robinson.
Robinson wanted council to spend money this year on a feasibility study for that site, but if it didn’t, he wanted a future comprehensive report about how much money the city could save by building there and whether Sportsplex staff and maintenance personnel could be shared with the new pool.
“I really think what the offerings of savings are to our Moose Jaw residents are too big to overlook … ,” he added.
Council had already approved the hiring of a grant writer, so hopefully, that person could find money for the pool no matter where the city constructed it, said Coun. Doug Blanc. Meanwhile, the Nat might be historic and people might like it, but the restoration cost is more than council can absorb.
He noted that while moving the $12.5-million aquatic centre adjacent to the Sportsplex could save $6 million, there would still be infrastructure costs and other expenses. That’s why he also wanted a comprehensive report with various ideas and total costs.
Council then voted to receive and file the report.
