Times Colonist
The Town of Ladysmith is hoping to borrow $13.5 million to build a new municipal hall to replace the current building, which opened in 1952.
A building of up to six storeys would be constructed to replace the existing building at 401 Esplanade, which is 3,152 square feet. The plan is for a one-level 19,000-square-foot hall at First Avenue and Buller Street, with another 4,000 to 5,000 square feet that would initially be leased out for institutional or community use, but would be available for municipal expansion in future years.
Ninety-five middle-market rental units would be built above the hall, to be developed by Catalyst Community Developments Society and the province through the B.C. Builds program.
A shortage of space at municipal hall has resulted in the town having to rent space at other locations, Mayor Aaron Stone said Monday. The town holds council meetings in various other venues, and spends $8,000 a year to store files off site. “It’s really inefficient. It is not the best work environment.”
A January staff report on the old hall says that with no shipping and receiving area, packages end up being stored in corridors, creating obstacle and safety issues. Ideally, all municipal offices other than parks and public works would be in the new building, Stone said.
An alternative approval process began May 24 and closes on June 25 for borrowing money for the project through the Municipal Financing Authority. The low-cost loan with a 30-year term would require an estimated annual payment of $860,520.
A total of 741 voters — 10 per cent of the town’s eligible voters — must oppose the borrowing plan for it to fail. Opponents must sign and submit forms available at town hall and posted on its web site.
Stone expects initial drawings of how the facility would look will be available shortly, prior to the closing date of the alternative approval process.
It’s too soon to know the impact on taxes, Stone said.
A group of Ladysmith residents has banded together to encourage others to sign forms opposing the borrowing.
Richard Kinar said he met with about 10 or so opponents on Sunday to form a group called Citizens For Transparency, which hopes to reach 1,000 signatures. Kinar said he believes $13.5 million is not enough to complete the project and would like to see the new hall built on another site, with commercial uses to create more economic activity.
The group is seeking public consultation and a referendum.
Also opposed is former Ladysmith mayor Alex Stuart, who agrees that a new municipal hall is needed but wants a clearer understanding of costs. “There’s a need for more transparency.”
