The public pushes to keep Edmonton pools and arenas off the board

A majority of the board is in favor of a zero percent property tax increase next year and to achieve that, the administration has identified $ 64 million of savings in its operating budget of approximately $ 3 billion.

The closure of the Oliver, Scona and Eastglen pools and the Oliver and Tipton arenas will save the city approximately $ 1.2 million in operating costs.

But community members are lobbying the city to keep them open until they find an alternative.

A Strathcona High School teacher who works with the swim team, Ryan de Boer, said 180 students were on the team last year and rely on Scona Pool for practice.

De Boer said the school takes great pride in the water program, having won 34 city championships.

“If our swimming pool were to close, sadly, we are quite aware that our swim team would have to drop out,” said De Boer. “Which is a shame because it’s something that has a lot of continuity.

“Older siblings convince their younger siblings to join this team because of the success and positive experiences they’ve had, so this makes a huge difference in their lives.”

The Queen Alexandra Community League is backing funding for another smaller, community-centric Rollie Miles Rec Center, which would replace Scona Pool.

Lisa Brown with the Oliver Community League said a poll last year shows strong demand for the outdoor pool there.

“The Oliver Pool is loved by our community,” is the most popular recreation center in the entire neighborhood, as is Oliver Park. ”

The city closed the Oliver pool in 2019 to repair the drainage system. He argued that closing the pool would be a waste of that investment.

The city council has approved several new towers in Oliver in recent years, creating about 4,500 housing units, Brown said.

“We need more parks and more recreational facilities in Oliver, not less.”

John Mervyn, a city employee with CUPE local 30, joined the meeting to urge the board to review its contracted services.

For example, he said the city ran its own tire shop, but that service is now contracted out.

“When a vehicle is sent to have a tire repaired, it comes back with four new tires instead of just one.”

He also argued for the need to keep community sports facilities open.

“Fitness and recreation are important to Edmontonians, especially now, and they will need them to help them get through these tough times,” he said.

Members of Edmonton Ice and Power Skating Adult Users also stepped in to keep the arenas open.

Other cuts

The city says it could save $ 100,000 by eliminating sterilization and neutrality services.

Karin Nelson with the Voice for Animals Society asked the board to keep the program.

“Cutting this program would be an absolute disaster, in terms of the population levels of stray and feral cats,” Nelson said.

The city is seeking to reduce the number of transit peacekeepers in development services, professional standards supervision, municipal enforcement responsibility and administrative support services, for an estimated $ 1.1 million in savings.

“These reductions can have some impact on citizens, including slower response times for
enforcement issues, ”the report states.

Other areas the city plans to cut are fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Canada Day and Family Day.

The list also includes personnel in spray parks and skateboard parks.

Janet Riopel, president and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, was one of the few speakers who praised the city’s attempts to cut its programs.

Riopel noted that nearly 50% of businesses have laid off staff and another 20% plan to lay off staff in the coming months.

He supported the city’s goal of raising property tax to zero percent and said the city is flexible and adaptable in its budget approach.

This includes exploring partnerships with private and nonprofit entities to manage recreation centers.

“It is the right move and it would reduce the cost burden on taxpayers,” Riopel said.

The city administration is expected to present one-time COVID-19 specific budget measures at a meeting next week.

Council begins discussing the capital and operating budgets on Monday and is expected to approve them by 11 December.

@natashariebe