City council will have a chance to reconsider its decision to build a stand-alone arena adjacent to the Kin Centre on Monday.
Mayor Dan Rogers used his authority under the Community Charter to bring a reconsideration motion before council. On June 13 city council voted to build the stand-alone arena south of the existing Kin Centre, at a projected cost $22.2 million, instead of rebuilding the Kin 1 arena as planned.
The rebuild of Kin 1 was part of the city's bid package for the 2015 Canada Winter Games and had a projected cost of $15.8 million.
Rogers could not be reached for comment as of press time, but in his report to council he said, "... I have been approached by many within the community who do not fully understand what council has decided to do, nor do they understand the potential impact on other city projects and priorities," Rogers wrote. "Some feel we should go ahead even if it costs $6.5 million more, others feel it should be attached to another facility to potentially save money, others only support another sheet of ice if it doesn't cost any more money than already allocated and still others prefer that if there are additional funds they should be spent on other priorities."
Rogers urged council to either return to the original plan to rebuild Kin 1, or propose a clear set of conditions required for the city to go ahead with a stand-alone arena.
Rogers and coun. Don Bassermann voted against pursuing a stand-alone arena on June 13.
Councillors Shari Green and Cameron Stolz spearheaded the initiative to build the stand-alone arena. Councillors Brian Skakun, Garth Frizzell and Debora Munoz supported the move.
Councilors Murry Krause and Dave Wilbur were absent from the June 13 meeting.
Not all members of council believe there is a need to bring the issue back.
Stolz said the discussion on Monday night will be the third time council has debated the issue. City council requested a feasibility study on a new arena after a presentation from hockey and arena user groups in March.
The study was presented to council in the June 13 meeting, Stolz said.
"Council has already reconsidered this. This will be the third time this has come before council, and we will see if council will do now," Stolz said. "We've had this discussion and debate already."
Skakun said council also proposed a working group to consider cost reduction measures, including a review of the city's capital plan.
"I think it's unfortunate that the mayor brought it back before the working group has had it's first meeting," Skakun said. "I continue to support a new arena and the work of the working group."
