A new proposal coming to Council would see the life of the Sportsplex extended by a minimum of 15 years through the installation of a new insulated roof.
“The roof of the Sportsplex needs repairing, as it continues to leak and is simply coming to the end of its life,” says Kelsey Johnson, the City’s director of Community Services. “This project has taken longer than expected, with some unfortunate delays, but the option of new fabric and insulation will provide users with a safe and dry facility for years to come.”
The project was meant to proceed in 2023 but issues with the contractor “including a failure to attend the scheduled delivery and installation” lead to legal intervention. This resulted in the fabric being delivered and the City having to find a new contractor to provide the installation of the material.
As Johnson notes, contractors were unwilling to provide a warranty for material they did not provide and also recommended insulation be installed. This left staff with several options: install fabric without a warranty; select a new contractor to provide roof material with a warranty; supply and installation of insulation, along with the new roof.
“Our focus was on how we can extend the life of the facility and provide a proper environment for user groups and that’s why we’re recommending a new contractor supply material and also install insulation,” says Johnson. “We know the lack of insulation played a part in the deterioration of the roof and proceeding without a warranty is not a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. The Sportsplex is an integral part of the community and we believe this to be the most effective way to move forward and ensure the site’s continued success.”
With $300,000 remaining in the capital budget for this project, Council is being asked to approve an additional $580,000 to fund the repairs needed.
Also on the agenda is a request for funding of two other facility projects:
- A report that would determine the restoration costs of the SS Naramata, at a cost of $45,000, to determine the full amount of work required to restore the vessel built in 1914; and,
- The installation of a temporary chiller, at a cost of $133,000, to provide cooling at City Hall through the summer before a new chiller arrives.
The full report is available at www.penticton.ca/agendas
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