ROTHENBURGER – PAC report and $120-million estimate will raise eyebrows
(Image: Station One Architects)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
LET’S UPDATE the ever-changing arithmetic for the performing arts centre.
The latest number to keep in mind is $120 million — that’s the preliminary estimate contained in a report to City council’s Build Kamloops committee today.
But let’s start at the beginning. In 2003, a new performing arts centre was put into the City’s cultural strategic plan. The estimated cost was $15 million. As time went on, estimates rose to $30 million.
In 2015, a referendum to borrow up to $49 million — with a total cost of $90 million for the PAC — was defeated.
In 2020, a second referendum on a scaled-down version with almost no parking, was withdrawn due to the pandemic. That one would have sought borrowing of up to $45 million for a $70-million project.
Inflation soon raised cost estimates back to $90 million for a much less robust project than the one proposed for the same price in 2015.
The cost of procrastination has been huge. The estimated cost is now eight times what it would have been if there had been timely action at the start.
Today’s committee report leaves many questions unanswered. For example, it doesn’t say whether the $120 million includes the $4.8 million the City already spent on the old Kamloops Daily News site, or the $10 million pledged by the Fawcett family.
The report suggests the City borrow $7 million on a work plan and final design. That’s an astounding figure, and different than previous proposals that included design in the total cost. The report doesn’t say how much of the $120 million would be borrowed, only that grant money would be looked for.
It’s all preliminary stuff but, still, it provides a lot to think about. It will start tongues wagging, so a good communication strategy is needed, quickly. Kamloops needs this amenity. This might be the last chance to get it, and the new numbers will take some serious explaining.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
$7 million to draw up plans with expensive large panes of glass that addicts love to smash in their unpredictable fits of rage. Has anyone not noticed the bus station glass panes being replaced with metal, yet even those are being kicked over?
If you’re going to spend $7 million on an architect to draw up plans, hire one that’s watched the entire series of The Walking Dead, so that they can design something that won’t cost another $7 million in replacement glass.
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If you zoom in on the image they’re using for the PAC, you can see drug addicts smoking fentanyl beside the main doors, discarded used needles in the bushes, someone defecating on the sidewalk, and a homeless person breaking into cars in the parking lot. That twinkling you see near the windows of the PAC is broken glass.
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A few years ago I suggested to one of the city councillors this project could be a joint one with the entire community, including our Indigenous community. There’s lots of land across the river from Valleyview with great access and a lot better chance for Federal funding.
My suggestion went over like a lead balloon.
Maybe this new Mayor will see the potential involved here. He and Rosanne seem to be able to communicate well. After all, the entire community should be a part of this……..Arts and Cultural Centre & there is a ton of culture available in our joint history.
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For sure if the natives get involved then the money issue for local taxpayers will disappear. Perhaps they could take the lead on this project, which would be historic!
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This is a great idea. The city has an history of commandeering cultural and sports facilities and repurposed them as facilities for homeless to the exclusion of those who were using those facilities for their intended purpose. I can’t support excluding responsible tax payers from using facilities for the sports and activities they were built for. Having this on the other side of the river might make it an undesirable location for homeless repurposing. And it brings a great opportunity for reconciliation efforts.
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No. With double digit tax increases, mismanagement and ballooning costs, you cannot play these kinds of games with our money. Crime and chaos is rampant in the downtown core. My family and I now avoid any dining or shopping down there.
While I support the concept, it’s too much too late. Another ridiculous pat-each-other-on-the-back initiative while ignoring the basics. Mr. big guy with the cheque book. You want to borrow $7 million after you raised our taxes to over 10%? You want to spend $120 million? You can’t even sort out the schedule for garbage and recycling pickup. You are proposing to tear up roads to change traffic, roads that you just spent hundreds of thousands of dollars changing.
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