The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Board has taken the next step in the long process of bringing a potential expansion project at the Castlegar and District Community Complex (CDCC) to a taxpayer vote.
A referendum will be necessary before any major improvements can take place at the CDCC due to the amount of money the district would need to borrow for the project.
At their June 19 meeting, the RDCK Board directed staff to prepare a service establishment bylaw and a borrowing bylaw that encompasses just the City of Castlegar and RDCK Area J.
Most of the area's current recreation services include Castlegar plus Areas I and J. But surveys done over the last year showed that there is a strong likelihood that Area I would not support increased taxation to enhance recreation services at the CDCC in a referendum vote.
This could result in a scenario similar to the 2018 referendum where a plan to add a second sheet of ice, new pool, expanded fitness area plus other smaller improvements failed after 71 per cent of Area I voters voted against the $32 million project.
Although a project has yet to be defined, setting the legal ground work with the bylaws needs to take place first. Once staff prepares the bylaws, they will come before the board again for final approval.
A key finding of the RDCK's Reimagining Castlegar Recreation Engagement project was that Castlegar-area survey respondents prioritized a second sheet of ice and a walking track for future enhancements.
With the closure of Castlegar's Pioneer Arena leaving the community with just one ice sheet, many user groups have also voiced their preference for another sheet of ice.
Further community consultation will take place as the RDCK works toward determining what the final project brought before voters will include.
