The City and the Cariboo Regional District have approved up to $50,000 to be spent for design and operational proposals for a turf facility in Williams Lake.
A joint committee of City councillors and CRD directors has put out a request for proposals that it hopes will provide some direction and a plan for the prospective facility’s future.
Earlier, a turf feasibility task force consisting of local interest groups, a city council member, CRD director and members of the public had determined that Comer Park was the preferred site.
It further suggested a turf area in the dimensions of 220 feet by 220 feet, and that the building include an administration area and change rooms.
The request for proposals is intended to determine best design and operational models for the facility based on the task force’s suggested location, size and other specifications.
When the request for proposals are returned, says Coun. Surinderpal Rathor of the City’s community service and recreation portfolio, it will be up to the City and CRD jointly to determine whether they like any of the options and whether to proceed.
“At this point in time we are nowhere,” he says.
“This is one step in the process.”
If a design is selected it will be up to the joint committee to hold a community information meeting, apply for a funding grant that could potentially share the cost between the municipal, provincial and federal governments and decide how to proceed on funding the project — whether by referendum or Alternative Approval Process.
Over the years the public has asked for an indoor turf facility, Rathor says, adding that the decision of whether to proceed with the facility will be up to the community.
Rathor’s main concern is that as the process moves forward that it go to referendum rather than the Alternative Approval Process.
“The ball is in the people’s court, they decide. My only personal preference if we borrow the money I would 100 per cent support going to referendum.”
The turf facility was a topic brought up at the CRD town hall meeting at City Hall Thursday night.