Budget 2021 Part 3: Facility Closures

Dec 2

The $1.4 million - Facility Closures were based on recommendations from Program and Service reviews and align with the City’s approach to Reimagine Services. Council directed Administration to prioritize the remainder of the capital budget and return with infrastructure cut-back scenarios. Future renewal costs avoided through closure of these facilities are conservatively estimated to be $26.6 million. The renewal costs were not planned for in the 2019-2022 capital budget cycle so do not reduce the capital budget and are estimates of basic rehabilitation over the next eight to ten years. The proposed facility closures are discussed in detail in the Fall 2020 Supplemental Capital Budget. The operating savings from those proposed closures are included as reduction strategies in this report.

I have concerns with facility closures as I think that goes against the idea of 15-minute neighbourhoods. In order to address this funding gap because I would like to see these facilities stay open, I am looking at the possibility of removing vacant management positions within the City of Edmonton and redirecting that funding to other priorities. I will be covering this in more detail in Part 7 of this blog series.

The Facility Closures section includes changes in Community & Recreation Facilities/Fleet and Facilities and Parks and Road Services.

Changes that are relevant to the experiences and services that Edmontonians receive are in the following areas.

Community & Recreation Facilities/Fleet and Facilities

Scona Pool
- Community Recreation Facilities ($226) Fleet and Facilities ($79)
Eastglen Pool
- Community Recreation Facilities ($410) Fleet and Facilities ($137)
Oliver Pool
- Community Recreation Facilities ($131) Fleet and Facilities ($60)
Oliver Arena
- Community Recreation Facilities ($13) Fleet and Facilities ($32)
Tipton Arena
- Community Recreation Facilities ($45) Fleet and Facilities ($39)