The City of Prince George unveiled two online videos Thursday to explain the plan to borrow money to replace the downtown fire hall and Four Seasons pool.
Earlier this year, city council voted in favour of holding a referendum in late October to seek approval from local residents for the two projects.
A new fire hall is estimated to cost
$15 million, while a new pool will total $35 million.
The projects are included in the 2017-2021 Financial Plan, which council approved earlier this year but both require approval of the electors because loans enabling construction would be paid back over a period greater than five years.
"The City of Prince George rarely goes to referendum and never does so without a very good reason and the current state of the Four Seasons Leisure Pool and both the state and location of Fire Hall No. 1 certainly provide excellent reasons," city manager Kathleen Soltis said.
"Through the summer and fall, the city will be providing residents with even more information so they can make fully informed choices when they mark their ballots this fall."
A referendum is a vote on a matter of public interest or concern.
Registered voters indicate their opinion by marking a ballot in response to one or more questions asked of them and in this case, the future of Fire Hall No. 1 and the Four Seasons Leisure Pool are in question.
Fire Hall No. 1 is located at Seventh Avenue and Dominion Street, next to city hall.
As the city's main fire hall for more than 60 years, city council concluded that it no longer meets the current standards as an emergency response facility, emergency operations centre and fire operations communications centre after receiving a fire underwriters survey, a standards of cover review and a condition and functionality assessment.
The Four Seasons Leisure Pool was built in 1970 and is located across Dominion Street from Fire Hall No. 1.
The most recent review, the aquatic needs assessment from 2016, identified the need for a pool replacement.
The report found that the Four Seasons is highly valued for its location and the programs it offers but that it is nearing the end of its service life, according to city spokesperson Michael Kellett.
"Accessibility, especially for people with mobility challenges is inadequate and parts of the facility do not meet modern safety standards. In addition, the building's structural and operating systems require significant investment beyond routine maintenance," Kellett says.
For more information regarding the referendum, visit www.princegeorge.ca/referendum.
