Arts centre vote may be set soon

Posted on May 3, 2015 in Arts/ Entertainment, City, Top Story // 4 Comments

Frank Dwyer (left) expresses his concerns at input session.

Questions at public input session will create more work for consultants.

NEWS/ ARTS CENTRE — A date for a referendum on the proposed $90-million performing arts centre may be set by the end of the month. In the meantime, another $90,000 will be spent on consultants to respond to public input on the project.

A report going to City council Tuesday says if council wants to go to referendum in late fall, the date will have to be set by May 26. Staff would recommend a date and the wording of a referendum question.

The report says setting a date wouldn’t mean council couldn’t cancel or delay it if it feels more information is needed.

City CAO Dave Trawin says in the report that input at a public input session April 18 highlighted public concerns about a more exact cost estimate, uses for the proposed parkade, more information on the kinds of performances the centre would be used for, and other details.

Trawin states about $150,000 has been spent on consultants so far, leaving $90,000 in the budget that was approved for the purpose last October. That can be used to get information in answer to comments received at the public input session, he says.

The plan calls for construction of a performing arts centre at the site of the Kamloops Daily News building on Seymour Street. The site was purchased by the City last year for $4.8 million.

Performing arts centre

Linda @ forty dating. // May 5, 2015 at 3:06 AM // Reply

Consultant is a questionable commodity.

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Lawrence Beaton // May 4, 2015 at 12:45 PM // Reply

Life for council and city staff certainly does seem to revolve around consultant reports. Of course, it is the taxpayer who paying for all of this. Wonder how many referendums the city will do before they get the answer they want?

Grouchy1 // May 4, 2015 at 10:16 AM // Reply

Are council , and city staff totally incapable of doing anything ? Seems to me that this constant practice of pushing money out the door, and into the pockets of ” consultants ” is just a waste of tax dollars. At the rate council does this, it makes the need for actual staff at city hall very questionable.