
Front page of Civic Facilities Master Plan report/via City of Kamloops
Planned upgrades to municipal-owned buildings in Kamloops — such as the Sandman Center — are going to have to be done more selectively, now that a plan to add more money to the reserve fund has been shot down.
Council’s Committee of the Whole has rejected adding $2 million additional dollars a year into the City’s asset management fund, while also rebuffing a request to hire on two more people to help manage the 190 facilities the City controls.
The pitch was made by the City’s Integrated Asset Services Divisional Manager, Darren Crundwell, who had recommended the City bolster the $1.5 million it current contributes each year to the civic maintenance fund up to $3.5 million.
Councillor Katie Neustaeter was among those who opposed the plan, saying she’s already worried about the forthcoming budget debates, noting council already hit property owners with a 9.55% increase for this year.
“I personally am determined not to see that same rate,” said Neustaeter. “I’m struggling to understand why this would be a very high, urgent priority for us, hearing that the facilities are in good condition.”
The $2 million dollar addition had been requested by Crundwell’s department, as a newly-completed Civic Facilities Master Plan has identified $35.4 million dollars worth of upgrades over the next 10 years among the 190 buildings the City maintains.
At the same time, a secondary request for two additional staff members to better manage the civic facilities, including an architect and a Civic Operations specialist was also rejected.
“I thought having you in this position, that would be your job. To make sure our assets are up to par,” Councillor Bill Sarai told Crundwell. “When I think of an architect being on staff, I’m like.. wow, ok, are we building that fast?”
In the wake of the rejection at Committee of the Whole, Crundwell says his department still plans to move forward with the various upgrades outlined in the Civic Facilities Master Plan, but says they will likely have to be more “selective” in the projects they approach council with.
One of the more expensive projects on the list is a multi-million dollar replacement of the Sandman Centre’s roof, which has been planned for next year.