Civic facilities upkeep estimated at $79 million

The city will need to spend $79 million over the next 10 years to keep its civic facilities in proper condition, city council was told on Monday night.

The number comes out of an assessment carried out over the last three years of 53 of the 62 facilities under the city’s wing.

To meet that goal, the city will have to spend an additional $5.5 million per year over and above the $2.2 million it has spent historically on the item, Dave Dyer, the city’s engineering and public works general manager, said following a presentation outlining the work staff had conducted.

“This is a very large number and something we will have to address,” he said.

The total does not include the cost of adding new assets or upgrading facilities to a higher standard.

At nearly $24 million, the city’s arenas represent the largest portion, followed by leased buildings at just under $15 million, then cultural facilities at $11 million, administration buildings at $10 million, parkades at $8 million and the Aquatic Centre at $4.4 million. Fire halls, the RCMP detachment, the cemetery and Masich Place Stadium round out the remaining $6.6 million.

However, Dyer said staff will be suggesting a different approach when the item comes up for discussion during city council’s budget meeting next week – to tackle many of the roofs in need of repair at the same time, “in one big project.”

In particular, the roofs at the SPCA building, South Fort George Recreation Centre, Kinsmen Community Centre, the 1310 Third Ave. building, the Via Rail building and the cattle barn at Exhibition Park are all in high need of repair, according to the assessment. The roofs on a further 28 buildings are in moderate need of repair.

Looking at individual facilities, the cattle barn at Exhibition Park is in most need of repair. An estimate for work on that specific building was not provided but collectively $4.8 million worth of work is needed on them while their total replacement value stands at $700,000.