The first of four key recommendations from the Asset and Amenity Management Project report will advance to the next stage. At today’s meeting, Council gave staff the green light to prepare a proposal for a new Public Safety and Protective Services Centre in Penticton’s downtown. The centre was identified as the first priority in the report due to the condition and functionality constraints of Fire Hall #1. The proposal will provide information on site alternatives, needs analysis, financial impacts, facility concepts and funding options for further consultation with the community prior to a decision by Council. Following today’s decision, staff will prepare a work plan and budget for Council’s consideration prior to initiating work on the proposal.
“These are going to be very big decisions for the community and Council appreciates the cautious and measured approach the City is undertaking, beginning with a detailed proposal for the Public Safety and Protective Services Centre,” said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki.
The Asset and Amenity Management Project was initiated in 2019 to understand amenity conditions and costs, and consider options to maintain, renew, replace or dispose of assets. First shared with Council at their meeting on Sept. 21, 2021, the report made four key recommendations for implementation over the next 20 years including the creation of a new Public Safety and Protective Services Centre to replace Fire Hall #1, two new arenas at the South Okanagan Events Centre to replace McLaren and Memorial Arenas, a new Arts & Culture Centre to replace the library, museum and art gallery and extensive upgrades to extend the life of City Hall. If the City implements the recommendations as described, the community would enjoy new facilities with modern functionality that are cheaper to maintain, have a longer service life, and reduce the environmental footprint.
Since the September meeting, staff have completed the Civic Places & Spaces Engagement Program to gather community feedback on the findings of the Asset and Amenity Management Project. Staff hosted 29 events to bring user groups, City committees, community groups and interested citizens up to date on the Asset and Amenity Management Project, answer their questions and gather their feedback. Through these activities, staff shared information and had conversations with close to 400 citizens and received feedback from another 400 participants. An update on these activities and the findings were shared with Council during the Committee of the Whole on December 7, 2021. Since this update, staff completed the engagement program, holding further discussions with the arts and culture community and hockey user groups and reviewing the engagement findings with City committees in preparation for returning to Council with a recommendation.
Through the engagement program, the City learned there is interest in each of the four recommendations but also many unanswered questions. As a result, Council endorsed the preparation of proposals for each recommendation for further consultation with the community prior to a decision by Council. The proposals will include a needs analysis, space programming plan, recommended location(s), site planning, architectural drawings, high level cost estimates and funding options. The proposals will be prepared in order of priority beginning with the Public Safety and Protective Services Centre that was recommended for completion within three years by the Asset and Amenity Management Project. Proposals for the remaining three recommendations would be brought forward in accordance with the timeline provided by the Asset and Amenity Management Project report and with Council’s direction to proceed.
“The creation of the proposals will allow further opportunities for meaningful engagement with the community and provide Council the information needed to make a decision,” said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki. “We want to thank the user groups and residents for participating in the process to date and encourage you to continue to follow this work as we take steps to advance the first recommendation.”
A summary of the findings of the engagement program can be found at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.