SPC declines request for pickleball funding

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on January 19, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

A request to approve another $300,000 for construction of new pickleball courts went out of bounds for the Economic Standing Policy Committee of Lethbridge city council on Wednesday.

The SPC voted to turn down a request to recommend that council approve the funding.

The lone vote of the nine members in favour was from deputy mayor Ryan Parker.

The SPC heard that construction bids for the courts have been received with the highest evaluated bid over budget. That bid was also the lowest, the SPC was told.

“Material prices have risen significantly since the approval of the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) which are contributing to the higher costs for construction projects,” says the report jointly submitted by Robin Harper, general manager of Recreation and Culture, and Parks and Cemeteries GM Blair Richter.

The SPC was asked to recommend to council that it amend the CIP to add monies from the Federal Gas Tax Fund so the project can be fulfilled.

In June 2021 city council approved the 2022-31 CIP which called for upgrading the pickleball courts at Legacy to meet standards laid out by the Lethbridge Pickleball Club and work with the Parks and Recreation and Culture departments to identify a plan for the site up to a maximum cost of $650,000.

An engagement process was started to gain feedback on converting the tennis courts at Legacy to pickleball courts and on May 10 of last year, council as part of its consent agenda, approved construction of the new courts.

Several members of the SPC expressed concerns that the costs have gone up by 50 per cent over the original estimates.

Several suggested that a pause be put on the CIP given rising costs of inflation that could impact other projects that may come before the SPC and council.

The SPC heard that a minimum of 12 courts are needed to host local and provincial tournaments and between 12 and 16 for larger events. They also heard that the six existing asphalt courts are not getting the use they could with those courts needing new surfacing to meet preferred standards. The existing surface of those courts is not conducive to the sport, the SPC was told.

The SPC heard that the six new courts could be constructed with existing funding but due to the volatile nature of the construction industry right now, the costs of just doing those could still be higher.

Councillor Jeff Carlson said he had concerns about setting a precedent by agreeing to the request, suggesting council revisit the entire CIP.

Councillor Rajko Dodic said he could have supported the original $650,000 cost but not a price 50 per cent higher, while Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the $300,000 was too great of an ask for him to support.

Acting mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel said she echoed her colleagues’ concerns saying that adding 50 per cent to the price is “significant” and suggested this could be an opportunity for council to revisit the CIP.

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