Revealed Nov 14, 2024 • 4 minute learn
The City of Saugeen Shores is okay tuning a draft ‘roadmap’ to programming, opening and working for the $49.9 million Aquatic and Wellness Cente underneath development on the Plex in Port Elgin.
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The proposed nitty-gritty particulars – the when, what, how and the way a lot – of the $49.9 million Aquatic and Wellness Centre (AWC) are detailed in a draft “roadmap” to programming, opening and working that was introduced to City councillors Nov. 11.
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Lisa Billing, Recreation Supervisor, famous it had been 13 months since she’d introduced the AWC activation and transition plans to council.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be standing here tonight in front of council to share what we heard from the community and how that feedback helped to shape the draft plan delivered tonight,” Billing stated.
She stated there’s “general excitement” locally in regards to the programming and potentialities on the AWC Billing, Some key themes within the 500 neighborhood responses to a survey included the want for a household hub, various membership choices, modern applications past well being and motion, and barrier-free entry, together with monetary.
The draft consists of an Inexpensive Recreation Program to assist the 85 per cent of survey respondents who stated Saugeen Shores ought to present “strong” assist for inexpensive recreation.
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Free neighborhood occasions on the strolling observe concern Vice deputy mayor Mike Myatt who famous the projected first-year AWC working deficit is $1.2 million. (It’s projected to lower to zero over the following 4 or 5 years.)
“I think we ought to be careful about giving away too many free things right at the beginning, because…it’s hard to charge, later,” Myatt stated.
He questioned why anybody would purchase a six-month strolling observe membership for $150 after they may use the observe without cost – “mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends” – probably costing the City roughly $60,000 in wanted income.
Billing stated the free indoor observe entry plan wouldn’t be “all the time” however can be scheduled at outlined occasions, permitting council to assist free participation.
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The draft plan additionally consists of new monetary initiatives like Passes for Entry and quarterly free AWC Group Entry Days, together with re-igniting and increasing present initiatives like Fill the Program, Billing stated.
Myatt additionally advised the City have a look at providing a cardiac rehabilitation program – like one on the YMCA in Owen Sound. Billing stated it’s not within the AWC draft plan and however consultations with Brightshores Well being System officers may happen.
Coun. Cheryl Grace, who additionally helps including cardio rehab to AWC programming, stated the draft was a “fantastic” report that additionally “very inspiring and exciting to see what awaits us.”
She stated the survey outcomes that present 85 per cent of respondents emphasised affordability says “a lot about our community and our generosity,” Grace stated, including she additionally likes the emphasis on making a household hub, providing youth nights with teenagers’ programming, golf equipment, card recreation, crafts and a neighborhood kitchen.
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Performing mayor Diane Huber famous that a few of the programming advised are concepts and “not for sures.” She, too, helps a cardiac habitation program on the AWC, noting that “care close to home is very important.”
Huber stated the draft a has fairly quite a lot of follow-up surveys and questionnaires to evaluate future satisfaction with AWC operations, and inspired employees to not simply take into consideration the ability customers as a result of “taxpayers in Saugeen Shores are on the hook for this facility for quite a few years, via their contributions to the Legacy Fund.”
“So, some sort of opportunity along the way to assess community satisfaction with the build, with the results of the ideas that are coming out, (would) go a long way to encourage civic pride because it’s the biggest investment in recreation stuff here, ever..” Huber stated.
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Trying on the danger analysts within the report, Coun, Rachel Stack stated she observed they had been “hinging a lot of their financial stability” on membership numbers.
Billing had ranked the chance of not producing projected membership income as ‘low.’ The report initiatives that 70 per cent of the AWC income stream will come from memberships.
“I’m just worried that if we’re saying that 70 per cent of our revenue is coming from membership sales – I read that to say if we don’t meet our target, there’s a significant – like it’s very consequential – if there’s at least an opportunity to consider whether there’s an earlier start ( to the membership drive)” Stack stated
Billing stated the ultimate plan will construct on the draft and additional refine the AWC program and repair choices, define a preliminary opening schedule and programming construction, assist the proposed AWC charges, and description standards for accessing the inexpensive recreation program.
Council can count on that report, together with adjustments to the Charges and Charges Bylaw in Might of subsequent yr.
The present development schedule expects occupancy of the AWC and second-floor municipal ofice in fall 2025, with a delicate opening of the AWC in November.
Operations will proceed at Centennial Pool till the AWC opens and employees count on to run a shortened fall 2025 swimming lesson session forward of shifting into the AWC.
Affirmation of move-in dates, deadlines, and a Centennial Pool decommissioning plan will probably be established in 2025.
Saugeen Shores Recreation Supervisor Lisa Billing introduced City councillors with a draft ‘roadmap’ to programming, opening and working the $49.9 million Aquatic and Wellness Centre underneath development on the Plex in Port Elgin.
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