If it all works out, people will be able to have their say on how they play in Maple Ridge sometime in the fall.
Sounding out the public’s views on new recreation projects is a painstaking process and one that has to be done properly, but in a timely way, says recreation general manager Kelly Swift.
“It’s a significant process, really, and it does take time to go through this process.”
Monday, council told staff to sketch out a building project schedule, funding model and public consultation plan.
If council approves that, then over the next several months, people can start having their say.
“My objective in building the community consultation process is to ensure there’s ample opportunity for people to comment,” Swift said.
That will involve talking to neighbourhood associations, sports groups, community forums and getting online input.
“There are going to be lots of ways for people to comment.”
Her main focus, though, is to get all the information together, “so it’s very clear to people what they’re commenting on.
“And then all of that information comes back to council and council makes an ultimate determination on what to proceed with.”
Any borrowing required will then need to get the public’s approval by plebiscite or alternative approval process, likely this fall.
Sounding out the public views in order to determine policies is a regular task now done by city governments.
Swift said she’s talking to other cities to see how they manage consultation processes. Open houses, online surveys, dedicated web pages, Facebook galleries, presentations, social media and blogs were all used in the past two years to create the Hammond area plan.
Consultation has just completed for the Albion community centre.
Wednesday, the city gave more detail to the five projects on which its seeking comment.
• A multi-use wellness facility-acquatic centre is proposed have a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, along with three-metre and 10-metre diving platforms, a lazy river, hot tub and sauna. Two full-sized basketball courts, a 200-metre indoor track, fitness centre and a new, six-sheet curling rink are part of the project.
However, if such a project makes it on to the plebiscite list, people will be voting yes or no to funding it, without knowing in what location it would go. The city can’t buy land for a project without knowing first if it will be approved by the public, Swift explained.
• A sports stadium, with a 500-seat covered area along with artificial fields could be built in the Albion sports fields as part of a major rebuild of that area.
• A cultural facility would combine a 150-seat theatre with a new museum and archives, possibly in partnership with First Nations. An outdoor gathering space and tourist information area could be part of that.
• Two new ice rinks are proposed at the Planet Ice arena, involving the conversion of the curling rink into a hockey and skating rink and building a second, new arena.
• Various community improvements including the Albion community centre, a Silver Valley community facility, retrofit of the Hammond community hall and possibly investing in the kayak and canoe club at Whonnock Lake.
“This is an important point in the community conversation,” said Mayor Nicole Read in a release.
“We want to provide the citizens with the information they need to ensure we receive meaningful feedback on each of the concepts.”