MAPLETON – Council here has directed staff to move forward with an application to Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund to cover most of the cost of proposed upgrades to the PMD arena.
In a 3-2 recorded vote on June 30, council approved an application based on a plan developed by consulting firm CIMA that includes a multi-court gymnasium with an elevated walking track and new entrance areas.
Several councillors expressed concern about spending so much on a soft service project, but Mayor Gregg Davidson, who spoke passionately in favour of the plan, said the upgraded facility would be something that will bring enjoyment to the community.
“Having a road rebuilt for that extra $2 million isn’t going to make everyone happy,” he said.
“Some of the stuff you do underground they’ll never see. It’s not what they call sexy and they’re not going to see it.
“This is something that the community can look at, grab onto, and enjoy. They’re not going to enjoy that road as much.”
Under the program, the federal and provincial governments will fund 80 per cent of the cost of qualifying projects up to $10 million. Projects over $10 million and up to $25 million would receive 60% funding.
CIMA originally presented the township with a concept including a large multi-use court for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and other sports, as well as an elevated walking track and a fitness centre.
Outdoors, a new accessible playground is under consideration. A large addition to the south side of the existing building, encompassing the site of the existing community hall is a major component of the original design plan and would include two large multi-purpose rooms in the extended space.
The project would also include a new entrance area at the back of the facility with a drop-off area as well as another covered drop-off area added at the front of the arena. A photovoltaic charging system for electric vehicles would also be part of the upgrades, fitting in with the energy-saving designation.
Other options, including addition of a second ice pad and a swimming pool were discussed as possible additions to the project during a virtual public meeting on June 1.
Given the tight timeline for the funding application deadline (due by July 6), staff presented council with three options:
- only apply for the portion of the work already in the township’s 10-year capital plan. This would fall in to the small and medium retrofit category which would eliminate the July 6 application deadline. If approved, the township would be funded for a total of $2.2 million and the 10-year planned expenses be reduced to $550,000;
- follow the original plan presented by CIMA, including converting the existing community hall to a multi-court gymnasium with elevated walking track, new entrance, adding multipurpose rooms and an accessible playground, etc. With this option there would be no increase to the tax rate as the 20 per cent of the overall capital plan was already included and planned for; and
- include a second ice pad and/or a pool as proposed by some residents.
Baron’s report notes CIMA has not had the opportunity to create a preliminary plan for the pool and ice pad projects, “but certainly can if this were the option council would like to move forward with.”
The cost of the ice pad would be approximately $10 million, and the cost of the pool would be approximately $5 million.
Architect’s drawing and photos showing the various components of a proposed renovation of the PMD Arena in Drayton. (Mapleton agenda image)
The report points out the first option would allow the township to re-allocate $2,200,000 to reserves as a hedge against future capital spending, the second would cause no financial burden to ratepayers and the third would add to the tax rate.
At the June 1 public meeting, Baron pointed out the tax impact of the borrowing required to add both the second ice pad and a pool to the project would amount to about 20% in capital costs and a further 6% in operating costs.
Baron told council staff recommended proceeding with option one, given recent increases in building costs and the potential impact on the township’s capital budget.
“Not that we do not want to add a gymnasium and some more rooms. But we’ve seen how much the increases have affected us on the water tower alone (construction of a water tower in Drayton was approved by council earlier in the meeting despite a final tender 30% higher than design estimates),” said Baron.
“What if our 10-year capital plan, apart from the PMD, goes up considerably as well?”
Baron continued, “If we do go with option one, in the event we are approved of course, that would save us about just over $2 million that we can put in reserves to hedge against any future increases that we’re not aware of …
“That being said, staff will happily and aggressively pursue whatever council chooses.”
Councillor Paul Douglas said, “I really liked the plan as presented, but I tend to agree with Mr. Baron in going with option one, especially in light of the previous discussion we just had on the water towers.
“To me the pool and the twin ice pad is definitely out; we just cannot afford that at all, especially with how the structure of the RFP was laid out. So it’s between one and two. And I think I’m looking to support option one right now.”
“It’s definitely a difficult decision. I understand the ideas between what Mr. Baron said and the other councillors about option one being the more fiscally responsible,” said councillor Marlene Ottens.
However, she added, “ I guess, a small part, or maybe a bigger part, of me looks a little bit at the saying that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. And I believe that could apply to infrastructure as well.”
Ottens conitnued, “Nothing ever gets cheaper. You can’t wait and say ‘Oh, it’s going to be cheaper later.’
“It won’t be, as we learned from the water tower which went from two, to four, to six million in a very short time.”
Ottens also noted grants of this nature may not be available in the near future.
“Will any of this kind of grant come up in the next little while? I can see the governments, after all the COVID spending, they’re going to be tightening their belts like crazy after this,” she stated.
Councillor Michael Martin said, “I’m not going to keep championing the second ice pad and the pool, like I’ve been doing all along.
“I still think they’re great ideas, obviously, (but) now’s not the time. We have no plans in place for any of that.
“But I’m just not sure that a multi-court gymnasium is what people are looking for either.”
Martin added option one would provide the township with “financial flexibility” to address capital needs in the future.
“I guess my concern with option one, if we went with that and it’s approved, and we do the work that was pre-budgeted, would that not just get undone if we decide five years down the road to do a whole different revamp of the facility?” wondered Ottens.
“Then all the money we’ve just spent on altering the entrance and, and moving the kitchen and whatever we’re talking about in the existing budget … will that just be money thrown away, because we’ll be undoing that to do a complete overhaul of the facility, because another grant has come up?”
Davidson pointed out the water tower comes out of a separate water system budget on a user-pay basis and the township’s contribution to the upgrades as proposed would come from already-budgeted capital funds.
“We’re not asking the community for money for the expansion of the arena. We’re asking the federal government,” the mayor stated.
“Yeah, but don’t forget it all comes out the same pocket,” said councillor Dennis Craven.
“You’re absolutely right. But if we don’t get it, another community will,” replied Davidson.
The mayor pointed out the township’s recreation master plan shows strong support for a multi-court facility in the community.
“One of the highest levels of support was for multi-sport courts in the Township of Mapleton, like the one we have in front of us,” said Davidson.
“Ninety-five per cent of respondents wanted a multi-sports court, which shows that we are on the right track building, or looking at, this as a plan.”
Davidson added, “So yes, we can, you know, just apply for the two, two-and-a-half million dollars, or we can go big, and look at something a lot larger.
“And I myself, don’t want to see other communities getting the ten-, fifteen-million projects again, and we’re left out in the cold with zero, or a very small portion.”
Douglas expressed concern about potential cost overruns due to rising prices for material.
“If we proceed with option two and the cost comes in at $15 million, and say we’re getting eight (million) from the government, we’re on the hook for that difference,” he said.
Davidson said council would have the ability to scale back the project if that were the case and Baron pointed out CIMA had built a “buffer” into the pricing structure to account for price fluctuations.
A resolution to proceed with an application based on the original CIMA plan was approved, with Davidson, Ottens and Craven voting in favour and Douglas and Martin opposed.
