Future uncertain for proposed Beaumont civic centre

BEAUMONT -- The City of Beaumont has allocated $100,000 for conceptual renderings for the proposed civic centre.

The motion brought forward by Councillor Sam Munckhof-Swain included the deferral of the project's full design phase until the municipality's 2026 budget deliberations. Munckhof-Swain says this will allow the City to determine cost estimates and continue with public consultation prior to moving ahead any further.

Councillor Nathan Netelenbos expressed concerns with the move, noting the risks of allocating $100,000 towards conceptual renderings when a potentially new Mayor and Council could scrap the project following this fall's municipal election.

"My worry is we lose $100,000 when it's voted down potentially, or we're lucky and it's voted for," said Netelenbos. "I do not know that we would have enough information at budget time to proceed, so that's my concern around it."

Meantime, Mayor Bill Daneluik supported the motion from Councillor Munckhof-Swain, but says that he hopes that the costs to determine estimates as well as put together concept renderings will come in well under the $100,000 price tag.

"I'm cautiously -- very, very cautiously -- going to support this motion," said Mayor Daneluik. "I'm hoping that the $100,000 will not be utilized, that it will be done for much less than that. Aaron (Lewicki) will do the best he possibly can to give us some good renderings to get the conversation going, but hopefully we will not spend anything near what is being allocated."

Beaumont staff had stated in a report that taking on the full design phase was not recommended at this time due to financial constraints. This comes as the estimated cost to undertake a needs assessment, engagement efforts, and development of a full conceptual design for the project came in at approximately $700,000.

If eventually approved, the new Beaumont Civic Centre would include a City Hall, arts, and library facilities on a suitable parcel of land in Centre-Ville.