Iqaluit approves big new building plan

Iqaluit gave the official go-ahead to plans for a host of new recreation facilities, city hall and emergency services centre at city council meeting May 10.

Now the real work begins.

First on the agenda is a replacement for the aging Astro Hill swimming pool with a downtown aquatics centre to be built on the vacant lot next door to the current Arnaitok complex.

The city’s contract on the Astro Hill pool expires in March, 2013, so “a new aquatics centre should be in place by that date,” says a report issued to council by FSC Architects and Engineers.

It’s not yet clear how much the aquatics centre project will cost, but the report urges the city to move quickly on the design phase so it’s finished in time for a possible referendum in the fall.

“The key to a successful result lies in ensuring that the broadest possible cross-section has been consulted and listened to,” the report said.

At the same meeting, councillors also approved a request for decision from city recreation director Amy Elgersma to push ahead with a funding application to P3 Canada, which coordinates and funds public-private partnerships.

Elgersma said the federal Crown corporation provides expertise and planning to set up P3 projects and funds up to 25 per cent of the project cost.

In response to a question from Coun. Mary Wilman, Elgersma said an application doesn’t commit the city to anything.

“By submitting an application to P3 Canada, the option remains on the table and allows us to further (analyze) the P3 Canada program as a funding option,” she said.

The FSC report says other funding for the projects may come from federal infrastructure funding, loans, and possibly bonds, if the city were to set up a non-profit society to manage the infrastructure projects.

Nunavut municipalities don’t currently have the power to issue municipal bonds.

But city ratepayers will likely have to foot a large part of the bill, and the FSC report says the business plan will examine “the potential impact of proposed project financing on property tax levels in Iqaluit.”

In addition to the pool, the project also calls for a so-called “dry recreation” facility on the current site of Arnaitok Arena that would feature an indoor soccer field, multipurpose halls, fitness centre, climbing wall and facilities for kids, youth and elders.

A replacement ice rink for the aging Arnaitok Arena would be located at the current Arctic Winter Games Arena.

The city also wants to build what it calls an Emergency and Protective Services Centre to house its bylaw, fire and ambulance services.

And it needs a new city hall with expanded archive space and a larger council chambers to replace the cramped space at the Arnaitok complex.

Final locations for those two buildings haven’t been determined.

City staff kicked off a series of design workshops this week, culminating in a two-phase meeting at L’ecole des Trois Soleils to gather design ideas from the public about both the aquatics centre and dry recreation projects.