Some West Kelowna councillors are criticizing former senior staff for what they describe as poor decisions regarding the new city hall.
91裸聊视频淭ime to talk about the elephant in the room, as far as I91裸聊视频檓 concerned,91裸聊视频� Councillor Rick de Jong said during budget deliberations on Dec. 19. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e sitting in a beautiful new city hall, and yet we91裸聊视频檙e looking at a brand new building that91裸聊视频檚 going to require $195,000 in additional costs over and above the budget.91裸聊视频�
According to budget documents, $115,000 of the additional costs will go toward acoustic improvements in the council chambers, and $85,000 will be used to design parking lot upgrades and expansion. Those who have attended council meetings are familiar with the severe echo in the chamber, which makes it difficult to hear what council and staff are saying.
91裸聊视频淭hen to hear today that the library has the acoustics that this room needs,91裸聊视频� de Jong added. 91裸聊视频淐learly, they thought about it. Why didn91裸聊视频檛 we?91裸聊视频�
The Okanagan Regional Library, which partnered with the city on the building, owns the portion of the building downstairs from the council chambers. De Jong expressed frustration that the former senior staff members responsible for the city hall decisions are no longer available to answer the council91裸聊视频檚 questions.
91裸聊视频淚n my mind, this is a good example of a lot of lessons that need to be learned and what can be done differently on projects of this nature moving forward,91裸聊视频� he said.
Councillor Stephen Johnston also felt council had been excluded from important discussions with the former senior management. 91裸聊视频淚t is frustrating,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭his whole project, throughout.91裸聊视频�
The acoustic upgrades and parking lot expansion design will be funded through the city91裸聊视频檚 capital reserves.
Originally budgeted at $18 million, the new city hall, which opened in May, came in well over budget at $22.79 million. Construction delays and supply disruptions caused the project to be stretched out over several months.
Council is expected to wrap up budget deliberations today.
