The YMCA of Northern B.C. will make a pitch to the city to run a new Four Seasons Pool.
Representatives are to meet with city staff in early September to present a proposal, CEO Amanda Alexander said Wednesday.
"From an organizational perspective, we would love the opportunity to partner around aquatics and believe that we could help build a real centre of community that would enhance the offerings in our community for our citizens," Alexander said. "And really offer some huge economic relief for the tax base."
She indicated the savings would be in the order of millions of dollars but declined to provide details prior to meeting with staff. Once that's held, the proposal will be made public, Alexander said.
"We have a clear number that can be saved from this and what we can bring in terms of our community impact in terms of how our charity speaks to inclusion and accessibility," Alexander said.
Whether a new pool will be built remains subject to a referendum on Oct. 28 seeking voters' permission to borrow $35 million for the project. Once made public, Alexander said she hopes to see the Y's proposal become part of the debate if not an outright question on the ballot.
"I think that the city council is very aware and concerned about the transparency of handing it over to the Y and sometimes the Y has a reputation of being corporate," Alexander said. "But it's not who we are at all...In my eyes the most transparent way of approaching it is to let the community have a voice."
Alexander said the her organization could play a role whether the facility remains downtown or is relocated to the Y's Massey Drive complex. She noted the Y is participating in bringing a pool to Vanderhoof by fall 2018.
"We're asked to do this work because of our expertise around aquatics," Alexander said.
A meeting with the city had been planned for early July but was canceled when finding accommodation for wildfire evacuees took precedence.
"It was just really bad timing," Alexander said.
It's not the first time the Y has offered to partner with the city.
In 2001, it asked for the city's help to nearly double the size of the Massey Drive complex for up to $7 million so it could house a larger gym, a three-lane running track and a swimming pool.
By 2004, the Y was proposing to triple its size for $14 million, with the city covering half the total, so it could also address the community's demand for indoor soccer and additional dry floor space.
But by the end of budget deliberations that year, the project was put on the back burner.
