Decision to delay referendum to pursue additional funding options reflects community input

In response to community concerns about the cost for proposed options for the North Peace Leisure Facility project, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board has directed staff to pursue opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships to help offset impacts to taxpayers before determining whether to proceed to a referendum. The project Steering Committee recommended this step following a review of the outcomes from the Phase 3 Community Engagement.

“We thank everyone who participated in the Phase 3 engagement,” says Brad Sperling, PRRD Board Chair. “We heard that our communities understand the need for a new facility, but have significant concerns about costs. Our next actions reflect their request to explore options that reduce impacts on their taxes.”

During the Phase 3 Community Engagement in April and May, residents in the four partner jurisdictions participated in seven workshops, five open houses and two community surveys (500 via a statistically valid phone survey with live operators and 452 online), asking questions and sharing input on proposed facility options and priority amenities balanced with cost. The engagement included written feedback and posts on haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/nplf, via Facebook and X and through emails, comment cards and worksheets.

Engagement participants generally agreed the existing pool is failing and a new facility is needed. Two 25‑metre lap pools are preferred over a 50-metre lap pool, and the two most supported facility options are an enhanced aquatics facility only or a multi-use facility with three to four recreation amenities. The amenities considered most important are one gymnasium, a dynamic movement gym, a fieldhouse with a full-size soccer pitch and enhanced indoor social space. There is also support for an indoor play structure.

When it comes to cost and tax impact, there was moderate support overall for a monthly increase of $30‑$40 per month; however, even this amount was not supported in PRRD Area B and Taylor. Additionally, participants expressed concerns about the current estimates as well as additional costs for land purchase and potential construction cost overruns. Participants also shared ideas for reducing the cost impact on taxpayers and broadly supported pursuing alternative funding through sponsorships and partnerships.

“The project Steering Committee recognizes the need to keep the process moving as quickly as possible; however, based on the input we’ve received from residents, we feel it is imperative to explore alternative funding support before moving forward,” says Trevor Bolin, Chair of the North Peace Leisure Facility Replacement Project Steering Committee and City of Fort St. John Councillor. “A small delay now could mean a big difference for taxpayers, so taking this time now is the responsible decision.”

In the interim, the Regional District and its partners will continue to operate the existing North Peace Leisure Pool to maximize its service to the community.

“Over the years, we have conducted many assessments on the current North Peace Leisure Pool to evaluate its existing components,” noted Chair Sperling. “The longevity of the facility is contingent on maintenance and potential unforeseen issues that may arise.”

The operational and maintenance costs of the facility are increasing annually, and certain sections, such as the hot tub and tot pool, have been closed as they were deemed financially impractical to repair considering the potential replacement of the facility.

“The current facility’s lifespan is challenging to predict,” Sperling added. “It's an ever-changing, dynamic situation. While it might be tempting to provide a specific timeframe, such as five years, it's crucial to understand that unexpected major repairs could necessitate temporary closures, while effective maintenance could extend the facility's life beyond initial estimates.

“We are committed to transparency and will continue to make decisions in the best interest of our community, even if those decisions are difficult or complex. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and support as we navigate these challenges."

The Phase 3 Community Engagement Summary Report, Report Appendix and summary report presentation are posted under Project Documents at haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/nplf.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD), City of Fort St. John and District of Taylor have been developing plans for a proposed new facility to replace the aging North Peace Leisure Pool. The North Peace Leisure Pool is owned by the PRRD and operated by the City of Fort St. John through a partnership agreement. The District of Taylor has joined with the PRRD and the City in the planning process for the proposed North Peace Leisure Facility. The current proposal would see a new facility funded in part by contributions from property taxpayers in PRRD Areas B and C, the City of Fort St. John and District of Taylor.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD), City of Fort St. John and District of Taylor have partnered to determine the future of the North Peace Leisure Pool and how best to address regional aquatic and other recreational service needs going forward.

The pool has served our region for generations. It provides fun, recreational activities for all ages. Generally, the pool hosts more than 100,000 individual visits annually, primarily from Fort St John, Taylor and the neighbouring PRRD communities (Electoral Areas B and C). That’s about 3.5 visits for every resident in the North Peace region.

Over the past decade, the North Peace Leisure Pool has been plagued with a variety of maintenance issues. Continual, repeated shutdowns of various pool features and shutdowns of the entire facility have negatively impacted community use of the pool. Ongoing capital and operating costs continue to increase due to these problems. We are also a growing community and the pool is no longer able to meet emerging community needs.

Working together, the four partners have started a planning process that included asking residents what they want in a new facility, and we have used this input to develop a mix of options for a new facility that reflect community priorities.

To date, there have been two rounds of community engagement to help determine the types of amenities residents in the partner jurisdictions want to see at a new facility. Results of the engagement were consistent across all participating communities. We heard strong support for a multi-use facility featuring both aquatic amenities and indoor recreation spaces. The following is an overview of some of the combined input from residents:

For more information on previous engagements, please refer to the public engagement reports available in the sidebar.

Project Timeline

• 2018: Public engagement – define vision
• 2019-2021: Project paused due to pandemic
• 2022: Public engagement – amenity priorities
• 2023: Feasibility study to develop options and assess costs completed and presented to project partners
• 2024: Public engagement – Input on best mix of amenities and cost