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Smaller hall might be less feasible

The goal is to build a modest facility that will provide Bowen Island with a much needed community centre. And, according to a council resolution, the construction of the core facility is not to exceed $3 million.

The goal is to build a modest facility that will provide Bowen Island with a much needed community centre. And, according to a council resolution, the construction of the core facility is not to exceed $3 million. But saving money by building small might not be the most viable option in the long run.

Florrie Levine, the project manager of the Bowen Community Centre Action Committee, said in her presentation to council on Monday night, "We looked at three different facility options to come up with the best solution for the community centre. The committee started with option one which is called the community hall and arts centre. This facility would include a multi-use great hall, a multi-use lobby, a multi-use concession and a first aid room. And that's basically the core facility we were talking about, the $3-million facility.

"The interesting thing about this facility is that it presents the committee with an immediate conundrum. The idea was to build a modest facility and be flexible to add future components. But you also want to come up with a financial plan that works for the construction and the operation. And when you look at a facility that has a limited number of spaces, the financial plan aspect becomes more difficult."

A smaller community centre may cost less in the construction phase but wouldn't have as many options to generate revenue. Levine said, "So we looked at option two which was the one that was presented in 2008 by the civic facilities working group.

They proposed all the items in option one. In addition, they proposed a small gymnasium, two multi-use activity spaces, an arts studio, a weight room and support spaces for staff including offices, storage and washrooms and showers. The committee felt that it was important to look back at this proposal that was put forward in 2005. And clearly, the needs of the community in 2011 cannot be less than they were in 2005 or in 2008.

"In order to start with something small, there has to be a credible financial plan, governance structure and fundraising strategy that shows that starting with something smaller makes sense," she said. "The committee decided to look at both options in order to be able to analyze differences and look at the benefits and the liabilities. Then the committee turned to an option three which is a hybrid. It has some of the elements of options one and then some of the elements of option two which would include one multi-use activity space, the weight room, washrooms and showers, staff offices and storage. Added is a multi-use exhibition space. That is basically the Gallery at Artisan Square, which is the home of the arts council, relocated to the new centre."

The hybrid option also includes an adjunct space to the great hall that could be used for rehearsals and spaces for staff. The great hall, the multi-use activity space and the multi-use exhibition space would be used as the main programming spaces that would be rented out.

Shari Ulrich, chair of the committee, said, "I think the community has made it clear that they want a multi-use facility. If the facility addresses needs in [Bowen islanders'] lives, they are going to support is. So the more limited it is, the less support we will get both in terms of donations and in terms of actual enthusiastic support. When you couple that with the increased sustainability, financially speaking, of it functioning long into future and remaining healthy, a larger facility makes sense. It's taking less of a chance even though it's a larger project."

In order to evaluate the options, the committee is looking for program partners. Levine said, "We have the municipality, that's the recreation and the municipal function, and we've got the arts council. And we have other potential program partners. This is something we learned from looking at other facilities in BC like the West Van Community Centre. They have a major tenant, Vancouver Coastal Health, and that helps them offset their operating costs. In Ucluelet, they have the Vancouver Island Regional Library as a tenant. If we can find somebody who is interested in being part of this facility, that makes sense in terms of offsetting our operating costs even though it means building more area. The capital funding money is easier to find than the operating funding money."

In considering possible partnerships, council brought up the option of combining the community centre with the municipal hall. Levine said, "Having the Bowen Island Municipality as partner in operating this facility would make sense from a financial point of view because it would generate an influx of operating dollars that would fund the operation of the facility on an annual basis. And these would not be new dollars, it would be the rent you currently pay."

Levine asked council for definition and leadership on that issue. She said, "The mandate of the committee is to build the core facility and come up with a viable financial plan for that facility. So you could stretch that and say, well, the financial plan has to include an analysis of whether the municipal hall can make it work."

Councillor Doug Hooper wondered how much space would be required for a library. Chief librarian Tina Nielsen said, "The library hasn't done a current assessment update. The plan that we had in 2000/2001 was for about 5,000 sq ft on one level. That's a standard based on your population." Nielsen is also a member of the community centre action committee. She added, "We talked about the library and about the municipal hall and we are not closing the door to any options. But we're certainly very aware that the mandate is to build a modest facility."

Mayor Bob Turner thanked the committee for its work and said that the purpose of the meeting was to get an update and hear recommendations. Levine said, "Right now, the committee is asking for an interim step by council that would support a site recognition and improvement project which might include placing a sign on the site that has already been designated. It might read, 'Future home of the Bowen Island Community Centre'. And perhaps improving the trail to the bluff. Right now, there is an existing trail that goes through the alders and overgrown brush and it's not very easy to get to the bluff and enjoy that space." Council supported the idea.