City council asked for more information before deciding to lease or sell the RCMP building on Edmonton Trail, Feb. 6.
The building will be vacant as of April due to the relocation of the RCMP to Highland Park Way.
The building on Edmonton Trail is 9,500-square-feet on 1.5 acres and has been assessed at $2.3 million. It is zoned as Public Services District One and requires a new roof that is budgeted in 2012 at $20,000.
Rob McLean of corporate properties said there is no need for a municipal based service to occupy the site right now but there may be in the future.
“As the community grows, the central location of the site would lend itself to well to a City operation,” he said.
Not-for-profit organizations and civic partners are looking for office and new facility space, he added. He suggested council lease the space for public or semi-public uses.
Mayor Peter Brown said he would need more information in order to make a decision.
“I’m not sure how I can approve without having an idea of who would be interested,” he said.
Alderman Murray Buchanan agreed.
“I don’t want to go down a process that we are going to lease it without knowing what we are getting into,” he said.
“I prefer to get expressions of interest before we go too far down one process. I’d like to see the implications and costs of each (selling or leasing).”
Staff will come back to council with expressions of interest from local groups who would like to lease the building as well as information about anyone who may be interested in buying the building.
City council voted not to contribute financially to the Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) for the 2012 fiscal year.
BRBC is a multi-stakeholder, non-profit organization that is dedicated to conducting activities for the improvement and protection of the waters of the Bow River Basin. Airdrie is situated within Nose Creek Watershed, which is one of 15 watersheds of the Bow River.
The City supports regional watershed stewardship initiatives through participation in the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) and financial support and staff representation in the Nose Creek Watershed Partnership (NCWP). NCWP is an organization that aligns with the objectives outlined by the BRBC, according to Amanda Ginn, sustainability coordinator for the City.
“The City’s financial contribution to the NCWP is currently $10,760, which helps on-the-ground initiatives such as the Nose Creek Water Monitoring Program and the Annual Nose Creek Clean-Up,” said Ginn.
Financial contributions to the BRBC are voluntary. Based on the funding model, Airdrie’s contribution could have ranged from $6,473 to $30,209.
“Given the late request for this funding, we do not suggest the City make a financial contribution,” said Ginn.
Ginn said the City would continue to support watershed stewardship through the CRP and NCWP.
The issue will be looked at again for the 2013 budget.
City council was updated on the progress of Genesis Place Phase Three.
Construction of the project is set to start in March and be completed by June 2013. Phase Three will include two NHL-size ice surfaces, change rooms for men and women, 250 to 300 seats per ice sheet, a large lobby space, office space and multipurpose meeting rooms.
On Jan. 27, a tender was issued for all pre-qualified firms to prepare submission by Feb. 25. Michelle Lock, director of community services, said the City received 15 submissions, seven met the qualifications and six will bid.
There will be a sod turning at the site on March 16.
