HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-09-012 - WLU Pool Fundraising1
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Community Services
Report To: Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting: February 9, 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: February 4, 2009
Report No.: CSD-09-012
Subject: WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY POOL FUNDRAISING
UPDATE
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. The community based
competitive swim clubs account for approximately 300 of the participants using this facility on a
regular basis. Half of these participants are Kitchener residents.
Report No. CSD-09-012 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. A detailed cost estimate breakdown is attached to this report. 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, CAO's and staff, 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 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; and,
• That any funding be contingent on WLU committing to going ahead with the repairs required
based on total available funding from other community partners, and that the repair costs
are front ended by WLU; and further,
That City staff participate in a working group to begin work on a longer term solution, and
that this working group may include partners from WLU, UW, City of Waterloo, Region of
Waterloo, School Boards, aquatic groups and community members.
The City of Waterloo has approved the following recommendations at its regular Council
meeting on February 2, 2009:
1) That the City of Waterloo approve $50k annually for five (5) years to be
committed to support the fundraising efforts of the community groups using
the WLU pool, and
2) That specifications and pricing for the remedial work at Wilfrid Laurier
University (WLU) pool be confirmed, finalized and reviewed by City staff, and
3) That any funding be contingent on WLU committing to going ahead with the
repairs required based on total available funding from other community
partners, and that the repair costs are front ended by WLU, and
4) That City staff participate in a working group to begin work on a longer term
solution. And that this working group may include partners from WLU, UW,
City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo, School Boards, aquatic groups and
community members, and
5) That the funding be obtained through use of the 2008 year end surplus
subject to the adherence to the Council approved surplus policy.
Report No. CSD-09-012 Page 3
It should also be noted that the Wilfrid Laurier University student union is having a student vote
on February 5, 2009 for a potential pool improvement fee of $10 per semester for a period of 5
years. If approved, this fee would apply to all full-time undergraduate students at the Waterloo
campus. There are approximately 13,000 students at Laurier.
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. It is recommended that
this funding be allocated from the Capital Contingency Fund.
Pauline Houston
General Manager, Community Services