HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-09-007 - WLU Pool FundraisingJ
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Community Services
Report To: Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting: January 12, 2009
Submitted By: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
Prepared By: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services (ext.
2646
Ward(s) Involved: N/A
Date of Report: January 9, 2009
Report No.: CSD-09-007
Subject: WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY POOL FUNDRAISING
RECOMMENDATION:
Council direction requested.
BACKGROUND:
In the fall of 2008, Wilfrid Laurier University announced that its pool would be closing as a result
of significant repairs that would be required to allow continued operations. Since that time,
Wilfrid Laurier has identified that $2.2 million will be required in order to fund the required
repairs. Several groups in Waterloo and neighbouring municipalities will be impacted by the
closure of the pool. In response to this announcement, those groups have worked collectively to
identify a solution and have been successful in securing a portion of the funding that will be
required to allow for ongoing operations. As part of their efforts, they have approached the City
of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener to ask that the municipalities consider making a financial
contribution to this project. As a result, Council directed the Mayor and staff to meet with
Waterloo to continue discussions in this regard.
REPORT:
For many years, Kitchener-Waterloo aquatics user groups and surrounding areas have used the
pool at Wilfrid Laurier University. As the only 50 metre competition sized pool available in the
Region, the pool plays a significant role in the ability of local swimming and other aquatic groups
to deliver on their mandates, and to serve their members. It is home to the Region of Waterloo
Swim Club, KW Synchronized Swimming, KW Water Polo, Laurier programs and others. It is
also used by intramural programs and other community events.
Report No. CSD-09-007 Page 2
WLU indicates that, on an annual basis, there are approximately 115,000 visits to the pool,
which is used on average 13 hours every day. The pool also supports significant special events
that WLU has estimated to have a local economic impact of $350,000 annually through tourism
and support of other related industry.
WLU has evaluated the required capital repairs and estimates that $2.2 million dollars will be
required in order to fund repairs to the extent that operations could be maintained for between
three to five years. As well, WLU has committed to fund the ongoing operating costs of
$300,000 annually.
The user groups have come together to launch a fundraising effort to support the pool's
extended operations. This group has identified initial funding and is asking the City of Waterloo
and the City of Kitchener to participate in those efforts by contributing an amount on an annual
basis.
Based on the discussions held by Waterloo and Kitchener Mayors and CAO's, it was agreed
that should Council wish to provide financial support for this project, the following
recommendations would be feasible:
• That annual funding in the amount of $50,000 be approved to be allocated from the Capital
Contingency Fund for a period of no more than five years to be directed to the community
user groups (i.e. Region of Waterloo Swim Club, KW Synchronized Swimming, KW Water
Polo} in support of their fundraising efforts to maintain the pool at Wilfrid Laurier University.
• That the funding be contingent on:
- the City of Waterloo approving an equivalent amount of funding
- the user groups being successful in their efforts to raise sufficient funds to support the
required capital repairs of the pool.
• Should the pool close prior to the end of five years, the annual funding would cease.
The City of Waterloo is considering similar recommendations at its regular Council meeting on
January 12, 2009. It should be noted that Waterloo's recommendation is not contingent on
Kitchener funding support.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
This project will require funding in the amount of $50,000 per year for each of five years (2009
to 2013}. This funding would be contingent on the efforts of the user groups in securing
sufficient funds to support continued operations at Wilfrid Laurier Pool. Should the pool close
prior to the end of the five years, the annual funding would cease. It is recommended that this
funding be allocated from the Capital Contingency Fund.
Pauline Houston
General Manager, Community Services