The construction of a new building at the Robert Service Campground (Yukon) is anticipated for the 2023 camping season.
However, it will not include all the features initially planned.
According to a report, at the Whitehorse city council’s meeting on January 10, Peter O’Blenes, the city’s manager of property management, presented a suggestion for the council to authorize the staff to begin the procurement for construction of the new building.
The city’s policy on procurement requires council approval to proceed with any purchase that is estimated to be at least CA$500,000.
O’Blenes said that the latest estimate suggested that it could exceed the CA$2.9 million budget.
“At that time, city administration reviewed the scope of the project and managed to identify a number of cost savings with minimal design changes to bring the project back to the budget,” he said.
There will also be several shelled areas that can be added later.
Six bathrooms were initially planned. Instead, three will be fully functional, with another two plumbed so that they can be installed later on. The sixth space will be used for ventilation.
The washrooms will be gender-neutral, O’Blenes confirmed when asked about it by Councilor Mellisa Murray.
Councilor Michelle Friesen also raised questions regarding the washroom, with O’Blenes acknowledging that the washrooms will not be accessible when the building is shut. However, there is a separate shower and washroom building for guests staying at the campground, accessible throughout the camping season.
O’Blenes has also revealed that a proposed kitchen would be shelled so that it can be completed later, and the overall dimensions of the structure have been cut down.
If the council approves moving ahead with the procurement, documents for tenders will be made available on January 24. The contract is expected to be issued in March, with the construction anticipated to start in May. The construction would be completed by May 1, 2023.
The campground is among four significant procurements under consideration by the council.
There were also recommendations to have the council approve procurements for construction work on the Parks Building in Marwell, along with the city’s fuel and propane supply.
All of the contracts are likely to be more than CA$500,000.
The renovations will see the city’s former transit building at 139 Tlingit Street transformed into the city’s new parks building.
As with the campground building, the most recent estimate for the work exceeds the CA$1.425 million budget. The city administration has scaled plans back on several energy and mechanical/electrical items to bring this project within budget.
The project will see the city add a biomass heating system, though the original oil burner system will remain a backup.
If the council approves the procurement, the tender will be released on February 25 with a contract in place in April. Work would get underway in May and be finished by May of 2023.
The current contract for propane and fuel (which includes heating fuel, diesel, and gasoline) expires on July 1, prompting the city to put out a tender for the supply contracts.
Each project would be a five-year contract. The tender documents will be published on January 24, and contracts to be awarded April 4 and in use after July 1.
It’s crucial for the city council to explore alternative funding to reinstate some planned facilities and involve the community in prioritizing amenities.