Fort St. John city council discussed the concept design and estimated cost of the aquatics facility project at Monday’s meeting.
City staff outlined what would be included in the facility, starting with the pool area, which would be twice the size of the current North Peace Leisure Pool.
The pool area would include a series of amenities, such as an eight-lane lap pool, a three-lane warm lap pool and a leisure pool. In addition, the facility would include a hot tub, waterslide and sauna.
The indoor field house would feature a full-size soccer field that could be divided into two or four smaller fields.
The city says the indoor field alone will not meet the demand from the soccer association, but the outdoor field planned in the second phase of the project should help.
A gymnasium and a rock-climbing wall are not part of the project due to the lack of overall space, despite the interest shown by the public during the engagement phase. However, staff say those remain city priorities and could be considered in future projects.
The capital cost is estimated at $185 million, including a 20 per cent construction contingency.
The city would have to borrow between $60 million and $90 million, depending on how much regional and provincial funding it can secure. The target is to get between $20 million and $45 million from those sources.
$40 million will come from city reserves, while $30 million from the Peace River Agreement with the PRRD over four years.
The city is also exploring grants and fundraising opportunities to raise between $5 and $10 million.
The presentation shows operating costs would increase by 31 per cent compared to the current leisure pool. Staff say the increase is relatively small given the upgraded features the new facility would offer.
A referendum is planned for October 17 during the municipal election to determine how much would borrow. Property taxes could increase by around $40 per household.
Construction would begin in Spring 2027, with the facility expected to open in 2029.