Maple Ridge residents are voicing their opinions about the city’s plan to borrow $393 million to build three major recreation infrastructure projects.
At a June 23 meeting of council, several residents were at city hall to voice concerns.
Steven Travis spoke about the cost to taxpayers, and the city borrowing during a downturn in the economy.
“This is a time when seniors, when young families are making choices about what groceries they’re going to buy,” he said. “And to spend upward of $400 million of money we don’t have seems like a very shortsighted – not a bold, but a very reckless decision of this council to make.”
He noted taxpayers are already facing a projected 4.5 per cent property tax increase from the city, before borrowing is considered.
The new spending would result in an additional three per cent tax increase each year, for the next four years.
“Not the right time for this,” he said. “$400 million is a crazy amount of a money to spend at this time when we’re struggling to fill our cars, buy our groceries, feed our families.”
The city will need taxpayer approval through a referendum in this October’s municipal elections.
The spend would buy a new indoor aquatic centre to replace the Hammond Outdoor Pool, an expansion at Planet Ice with two new rinks including a 2,000 seat arena, and redeveloping Maple Ridge Golf Course into two baseball fields and a multi-use community park.
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Chelsa Meadus, a former city councillor, asked council about the city’s plan to use revenue from developers – charges of as much as $19,000 per single family lot – to make loan payments.
“What happens if development continues to decline, ACC (Amenity Cost Charge) revenue is delayed, or the revenue does not materialize as projected – does that shortfall fall back on taxpayers?” Meadus asked.
Staff clarified that if ACC charges cannot be used, because growth doesn’t materialize, debt servicing could be done with reserve funds, or by increasing the tax rate.
Meadus also suggested council not link the borrowing vote directly to redeveloping the golf course lands, suggesting the ball diamonds could be built at a different site.
Resident Kelly Cooper told council that it should hold a separate referendum on each project
“You’re relying on the support for the aquatic centre to push through the park, rather than allowing each to stand on their own,” Cooper opined.
Some councillors later said they were in favour of having a separate borrowing approval question for each project.
The Hammond aquatics centre would cost an estimated $227 million, New rinks $143 million, and ball diamonds and multi-use park $23 million. That totals an estimated $393 million, plus or minus 20-25 per cent, council was told.
Council heard there will be an estimated $2 to $3 million in operating costs each year, depending on programs offered.
But some city debts are being paid off. The city has debt payments expiring, freeing $3.5 million per year in 2027-2028.
There were more than 250 comments on the city Facebook post announcing the coming referendum. They ranged from lengthy comments about spending, to “That ice rink looks sick. Wake me up when it’s built.”
There was a call for a new bronze statue of Larry Walker at the stadium, a suggestion for a new outdoor pool, and numerous comments about preserving the golf course.