I want to thank and apologize to those who attended last night’s meeting.  Your attendance was noted by Council, so it was not a wasted effort, though you must be very frustrated.  

The decision on Harry Jerome was deferred until a later date (date to be announced).  The Motion by Counsellor Hu deferred the decision as the in-camera session following the open Council meeting was to discuss matters concerning Harry Jerome that could influence the final decision. These matters included financing, Harry Jerome Lands, legal advice and contract negotiations as noted by Mayor Buchanan at the very end of the meeting.

No one knew about this Motion in advance, including other Counsellors, City staff and the audience.  

We hope we can count on your support.  The North Shore Aquatics Society will continue to do what we can to help Council make the right decision – a 50 metre pool.

Linda Sullivan, President

North Shore Aquatics Society

City of North Vancouver council may soon be scrapping plans for a 50-metre pool, curling sheets and rooftop sports courts at the new Harry Jerome Recreation Centre in order to save money.

The previous city council approved the $210-million, 256,433-square-foot complex with all the bells and whistles in 2018, but early in the new council’s term, Mayor Linda Buchanan won support for a motion directing the city to delay issuing construction contracts until council had a chance to consider cheaper alternatives and financial risk mitigation measures.

See more at: https://www.nsnews.com/news/city-of-north-van-may-scale-back-harry-jerome-plans-1.23653847

Monday March 4 at 6:00pm
North Vancouver City Council Meeting
City Hall, 141 West 14^th Street

The North Shore Aquatics Society is urgently requesting your show of support one last time at City Hall on Monday night.  We need a good turnout as the City is now considering building a 10 lane 25m pool instead of an 8 lane 50m pool due to the cost differential of $4.6 million even though the cost of the entire Harry Jerome facility is fully funded by a lease agreement with Darwin Construction.  

Last November the new Council requested that City staff investigate ways to reduce costs for Harry Jerome and singled out the 50 metre pool.  City Staff is again recommending a 25m pool at Harry Jerome.  The North Shore Aquatics Society will not be giving a presentation; but, the discussion that will be held by Council could be swayed if we have a large crowd in the audience.  This new Council needs to see that there is huge support for a 50m pool –  they really don’t know how much we want a 50 metre pool. If Council votes for a 25m pool on Monday night, then our dream of a 50 m pool at Harry Jerome is over as City staff will be directed to begin the final design process and issue building tenders by July.  

We know it seems like this process keeps getting delayed; but, this is it.  We are urgently asking you to show your support again by attending the City Council meeting on Monday night: 6:00, 141 West 14^th Street, City Hall.  We need everyone who believes a 50 metre pool is the right choice to attend.

Linda Sullivan, President

North Shore Aquatics Society

Council voted 4-3 to re-examine

Four months after the previous City of North Vancouver council hit the gas on the $210-million Harry Jerome rec centre project, the new city council pumped the brakes.

See more at: https://www.nsnews.com/news/harry-jerome-project-to-be-revisited-possibly-revised-1.23510275  [Read more…]

…  Like a new cast reworking an old play, City of North Vancouver council is set to revisit – and possibly waylay – the new Harry Jerome rec centre.

Council approved the $210-million facility in a 4-3 split last July but Mayor Buchanan is slated to ask the newly-elected council to take a second look at the financial risk posed by the project.

Buchanan’s motion includes an instruction that would bar city staff from issuing the construction tender on the new rec centre until council approves: “satisfactory risk mitigation measures.”

See more at: https://www.nsnews.com/news/what-s-up-at-council-this-week-1.23508176  [Read more…]