Sylvie Paillard
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Sparks flew at Squamish council Tuesday (April 18) as lawmakers voted to scrutinize the cost overruns of the Adventure Centre, how the expenditures were approved and how they met the Local Government Act and Community Charter.
"There are still negative feelings in the community," said Coun. Mike Jenson, who proposed the motion. "The motion is to get closure. I'd like us to air the issue and move on."
The initial plan for the Adventure Centre had a budget ot $2.1 million, with the District of Squamish covering $900,000 in costs. The total cost has now inflated to $4.7 million, and more costs are expected to accrue with the proposed access route and interior hanging displays.
Jenson said that the process of building the Adventure Centre involved closed meetings, and resulting overages "troubled" him.
"I'd like to get to the bottom of it."
Mayor Ian Sutherland said he didn't want to waste staff time in compiling a report when all the information regarding the Adventure Centre was released, even the in-camera sessions.
"If you want somebody to blame, blame me," he said. "We'll get a sponsor a whole lot faster if council doesn't keep talking the building down."
Sutherland said that the revenue generated from the Oceanfront Development Corporation development will balance out the overruns and result in a "positive cash position" for the district. But, he said, if they're to revisit the Adventure Centre, they should also revisit the Log Book Park fiasco that resulted in $200,000 being spent without the desired results.
"Why not review the last 15 years?" he said.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she supported the motion to have staff complete a report on the Adventure Centre, adding that if the information was indeed easily available, it should take staff little time to prepare a report. Lonsdale said she would also support a review of the Log Books, but she did not support the notion that Sutherland should shoulder the blame.
"Council has to accept the blame," she said. "I was part of that council too."
She said Jensen is correct when he said the community has a lot of concerns, and council will stop asking questions when it gets all the answers.
"We should learn from it so it doesn't happen again," said Lonsdale.
Coun. Raj Kahlon said that unless an item is taken off district staff's plate, their time should not be wasted with a review of the Adventure Centre. Kahlon added that the RCMP building continues to be a problem and he'd like a review of the process behind that municipal project. Coun. Patricia Heintzman said that the Adventure Centre is still topical and it was "ridiculous" to bring up the Log Book Park and RCMP building, adding that it was turning the proceedings into a "carnival."
Sutherland put forward a motion that the RCMP building and the Log Book Park project be reviewed. Lonsdale, Jensen, Heintzman and Coun. Jeff McKenzie opposed. Jensen's motion was passed with Kahlon and Sutherland opposed.
