Frequently Asked Questions

The upgrades to the pool will increase the number and quality of swims for residents by adding a large amount of shallow, warm leisure water that is preferred by young children, families and seniors. Modern design features like a ‘lazy river’ will also be useful for rehabilitation therapy. The replacement of the main pool tank will include a water height to deck level for easy access as well as a ramp entry for persons with low mobility. The tank rebuild will permanently fix the pool leaks, which in turn will reduce costs for water treatment and chemicals. The addition of multi-purpose fitness space to a second floor will allow for a wide variety of activity programs and basic training equipment.

The Cariboo Regional District will be seeking the authority to borrow up to $10 million over 20 years for the project in a referendum planned for November 2014. The remaining $1.3 million required will be made up from grants, fundraising and capital reserves in the Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services function.

The project includes three main components: increasing the shallow-water leisure pools from the existing 540 to 3,700 square feet, replacing the main lap pool tank and adding multi-purpose fitness centre space to a second floor above the change rooms. Other improvements include a larger family change room, replacement of mechanical and electrical systems and a redesign and resurfacing of the parking lot.

Throughout 2012, a Pool Task Force consisting of numerous community members guided an extensive facility review and provided multiple public consultation opportunities. The consultations included multiple interviews with numerous community organization and stakeholder groups, on-line input opportunities, two open houses, and several days of information kiosks that were set up around town at high profile locations during which time the Pool Task Force spoke directly with hundreds of members of the public each day. This process allowed all to consider several design concepts ranging from only minor repairs to a completely new facility and the resulting preferred concept is a direct outcome from those consultations. The recommended design from the Pool Task Force is the project to be considered by the referendum, and it received very strong support at committee meetings, open houses and all community input opportunities.

The expected operating cost increase of the new, larger pool is $50,000 per year. This is a conservative estimate from the Pool Feasibility Study, which notes that the cost could be much less. It is expected that the upgraded pool will generate significant new revenue to offset most operational cost increases.

The cost to residential taxpayers is about $40 / $100,000 of the assessed value of land and improvements on properties within the sub-regional recreation service area. This cost includes both the financing cost to borrow $10 million over 20 years and the operational cost increase of $50,000 per year.

The construction cost is $11.3 million based on estimates provided by an architectural firm in the Williams Lake and District Pool Feasibility Study (2012). This figure includes the phased construction approach as well as cost escalation contingencies.

The main pool tank has structural damage in several key areas including the expansion joints and underground piping. There is a high risk that it will fail completely. The main pool tank was closed for seven weeks in 2011 due to an underground pipe bursting, and expansion joint leakage resulting in huge water loss beneath the main tank. During the repairs, structural damage was confirmed by engineers. A temporary repair was put in place until the tank could be replaced and it is not expected this repair will last much longer, nor can a similar temporary repair be done again. The tank is still leaking a significant amount of water each day, a situation that cannot continue indefinitely.

The project can be built in two phases so that there is water open for public use most of the time during construction. In the recommended concept, the new leisure pool would be built first and the main tank would remain open during construction. When the leisure pool is complete, it would open and the main tank would be closed for replacement. This phased process would take between 16-20 months to complete. There will be short periods of time when both pools are unavailable. The alternative construction plan would be to close the entire pool for 12-15 months.

The soonest construction could begin on the project is in 2016. This date is dependent on a successful referendum in fall of 2014 and completion of the detailed design plans in 2015.

The existing pools are more than 30 years old and suffer from ongoing structural and mechanical failures. The main issue at this time is leaking from the main pool tank as well as continuous repair in other areas. Because the main pool tank must be rebuilt soon, there is an opportunity to upgrade and modernize both pools at the same time.

The project cost and recommended concept footprint area are firm; however, following the referendum, a design committee will work with an architectural firm to plan the necessary additional details. Through this design committee, there will be regular updates and opportunities for feedback from key stakeholder groups and the public.

The tax increase would affect all properties within the Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services sub-regional recreation boundary of the Cariboo Regional District. This boundary includes the City of Williams Lake as well as surrounding areas, such as 150 Mile House, Wildwood, Mountview, Fox Mountain and Esler subdivision. A map of the area is included with this FAQ and a larger version is available on the Cariboo Regional District and City of Williams Lake websites.

The 2014 residential tax rate will be $90 / $100,000 of assessed value. This generates approximately $2.2 million that supports operation of the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex as well as other facilities such as the Esler Sports Complex and local mountain bike trails.

The referendum will be held in conjunction with local government elections on Saturday, November 15, 2014.

The referendum will have a “yes or no” question, which will ask residents if they agree with the Cariboo Regional District borrowing up to $10 million and amending the maximum taxation limit for the Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services function to complete renovations and upgrades to the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex pool including expansion of leisure water, replacement of the main pool tank, and the addition of multi-purpose fitness space.

Canadian citizens over the age of 18 who are residents (including renters) or property owners within the sub-regional recreation boundary and that meet the eligible voter criteria can vote in the referendum.

If the referendum fails, the main pool tank and associated mechanical systems will still be replaced at a cost of about $2 million. This funding will come from the Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services budget through a combination of capital reserves and short-term borrowing. The resulting residential property tax increase from this project will be approximately $17/$100,000 for five years. In this scenario, both pools, sauna and steam room would be closed for approximately 12 months. The tank replacement is a permanent solution and should last a minimum of 30 to 40 years. The results of this work will leave the pools essentially unchanged from their current form and will not address many other ongoing issues such as the undersized leisure pool and hot tub, deteriorating structural items including roofs, windows, and floor tiles, as well as aging electrical and mechanical systems. These areas will also need to be addressed as individual projects in the near future and will require significant expenditures. The recommended concept from the Pool Task Force was selected because it provided the best value to address all of these issues and included the direct benefits of an expanded facility.

To ask questions or obtain more information on the project and the referendum process, visit the CRD website at cariboord.bc.ca or the City of Williams Lake at williamslake.ca. Information is also available contact the Cariboo Regional District’s Manager of Community Services at 250-392-3351 or the City of Williams Lake, Director of Community Services 250-392-1786.

The Regional District and the City will be pursuing grants from senior governments as they become available; however large grants for recreation infrastructure projects have been difficult to obtain in recent years. The project has an estimated cost of $11.3 million and the Regional District will be borrowing up to $10 million. Therefore grants, along with capital reserves and local fundraising efforts, will be required to cover the difference. Any grants obtained in excess of the $1.3 million will reduce the amount of funding to be borrowed for the project so the cost to local taxpayers will be reduced.

yes. The project scope for the new pools includes installation of updated water treatment technology. The new equipment will help reduce the amount of chlorine required to meet regulatory standards and provide a better environment for swimmers.

In the time leading up to the referendum, the role of the City and the Regional District is to provide factual information on the recommended option for the renovation and upgrade project that was developed through the feasibility study and endorsed by the Joint Committee. This information is neutral by design and is intended to enable residents to understand the project scope and cost, and then make the right decision for them on Nov. 15.

Undertaking a major renovation and upgrade project such as the recommended option for the pool requires several strategies to keep the work within the planned budget. There are appropriate contingencies for unforeseen circumstances and inflationary factors built into the $11.3 million construction estimate provided by the architects, which created the concept design. The architects involved have extensive experience in developing budgets for projects of this nature, and detailed designs would be completed prior to construction to confirm the estimated costs. The exact final construction cost will not be known until tender bids from construction companies are received. Of course, it is hoped that the bids will come in lower than the estimated budget. The expected cost of $40 per $100,000 of assessed value may also be significantly offset by grants from the provincial and federal governments and support from corporate sponsors.