Library renos could cost up to $8 million

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This article was published 21/03/2022 (1648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s Library/Arts Building on Rosser Avenue could get a new exterior entrance and energy upgrades as part of potential renovations, it was revealed at Monday’s city council meeting.

City director of planning Ryan Nickel said the process of preparing a redesign for the building has been ongoing for the last year and has included public consultation and a conceptual design created by rBlock Architecture Inc.

He said a conceptual design presents a vision and allows stakeholders to get on the same page when it comes to the desired result.

During a slideshow, Nickel showed a rendering of what the new entrance of the building would look like, sporting an exterior entrance for both the library and the art gallery so patrons don’t have to enter through The Town Centre mall.

According to him, safety and accessibility were the biggest concerns for the public with the project.

“This facility is not going to solve the safety problems and some of the perceptions of downtown, but the design of the building can enhance safety, at least at the building scale,” Nickel said.

Another desire expressed was to improve access to cultural facilities, which is why the proposal would move the Brandon General Museum and Archives from its current home on Ninth Street to the first floor of the Library/Arts Building.

“Due to changing needs for the library, they didn’t need all the space, so they explored opportunities to share the space such as with the Brandon Museum — who is looking to take advantage of a joint space such as this — as well as having that common entry area where there could be a coffee shop, common gathering/sitting area where residents can mingle,” Nickel said. “This isn’t the library of the past where you had to come in and be quiet. It is a social place.”

The report also highlighted the potential cost of the project depending on what aspects get developed.

The baseline scenario, which would cost $4,904,698, would get most of the interior work completed like a renovation of the main floor and new south-facing windows but would leave out the new shared entrance.

At $5,956,425, the “elevated design scenario” would include all the work included in the conceptual design.

For around $8,078,700, the city could also add new windows and doors, improve the roofs and walls with better insulation, install new HVAC equipment and set up a rooftop array of solar panels.

That last option, according to Nickel, wouldn’t just make the building more energy-friendly, but also take care of some deferred maintenance costs and create annual savings. Council will also have to put aside money to pay for a detailed design.

“It really opens many doors to grants that are simply unavailable just for building upgrades,” he said of the energy improvements.

Both Mayor Rick Chrest and Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine) asked Nickel if feedback forms and design documents for the proposed changes could be placed both in the building and online, especially with events at both the library and art gallery ramping up.

Depending on what option council decides on, city administration will then have to arrange for borrowing to pay for the renovations. If the full energy retrofit option is selected, Nickel estimated that it wouldn’t likely start until late 2023.

Delivering a report from the audit and finance committee, Coun. Glen Parker (Riverview) said the city’s unaudited financial report for the 2021 fiscal year shows a surplus of approximately $3.299 million.

Of that total, $1,894,219 comes from the general revenue operating fund and $1,404,756 from the utility fund.

Those funds are being redirected to city budgets and reserves. From the general revenue surplus, $800,000 is going to this year’s operating budget, $70,000 is going towards the Sportsplex roof replacement project, $400,000 to the COVID restart reserve, $150,000 to the Eastview Landfill reserve, $150,000 to the Sportsplex reserve, $150,000 to the storm sewer reserve and $174,219 to the Parks Reserve.

Of the surplus from the utility fund, $1 million is going to the water distribution reserve and $404,756 is going to the wastewater reserve.

According to Parker, there was about $290,000 left in the COVID restart reserve after this year’s budget deliberations and the decision to top up the reserve was decided due to the continuing instability surrounding the virus and its possible effects on the city.

Kate Hill and Ryan Johnson were appointed to the city’s Planning Commission, Cam Wirch and Pamela Smith to the board of the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation, and city clerk Heather Ewasiuk was appointed as the city’s senior election official for this fall’s municipal election.

Speaking during the motion to appoint BDDC board members, Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) said there had been a third qualified candidate who volunteered to fill a vacancy and some consideration is being made to adding another citizen representative so that they can serve.

Terms for the new commission and board members begin April 1. Fawcett joked that despite the start date, the appointments aren’t a gag.

After Ewasiuk was appointed as senior election official, Chrest reminded those listening about this fall’s election and encouraged those interested to consider running. Chrest emphasized that he’d like to see candidates that reflect Brandon’s gender and cultural diversity.

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