Regina residents implore council to save Maple Leaf Pool

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere says a proposed pool closure is the "lightning rod" in the 2019 budget, which has yet to be passed.

Councillors listened to more than 20 members of the public deliver presentations for four hours on Monday. A majority of the speakers implored officials to save the Maple Leaf Pool, slated to close next summer.

As Monday's meeting got underway, 18 people had registered to address council about the proposed closure of Maple Leaf Pool, which city staff say has deteriorated and is past its life cycle. Closing the pool is part of multi-year proposal for the city to replace the aged Wascana Pool with what it calls a "destination" waterpark with slides in the next few years.

Fougere, who in 2013 said pools would not close when the issue was brought forward in a report, said Monday he hasn't made up his mind yet on the matter, which people rallied about over the past weekend. The mayor said he first wants to hear what his colleagues have to say.

"These are not easy decisions to make and nobody's taking this lightly. No one wants to be in the situation we're in today," he said.

"Do we leave it the way it is? Do we allow them to use a pool that could be a safety issue, it may well be a safety issue to use it again next year, so we're trying to find ways to move forward in a way that meets the needs of the community, but also is financially responsible."

City aims to replace pool ... with something

The city hopes to bring some new form of recreation to replace the Maple Leaf Pool, but what exactly that would be is unclear.

In its proposal, the city says it will use the funds dedicated to the pool for additional summer programming in the Heritage neighbourhood and begin community engagement for developing a new recreational site.

Residents who were at city hall offered councillors another option: Fix the pool in order to keep it open. 

Speakers included concerned parents, community leaders and Heritage residents who took turns asking councillors to reconsider closing the pool, saying it serves an important need for families and children who have no other option for outdoor recreation in the neighbourhood.

They told council the pool is used by children who belong to single parent households and low-income families who require it for recreation and swimming lessons.

"I believe the city is making a huge mistake," resident Lesley Farley told council.

Joshua Campbell, who lives near the pool and teaches at Miller Comprehensive High School, said while he could take his two daughters to another pool, some of his students could not afford to do the same.

Student 'devastated' Maple Leaf Pool set to close

Student Victor Robertson, 15, said he would not have learned to swim had it not been for that pool, where he still goes with his friends.

"I was devastated," he said of learning about the closure.

"I was sad to see it go. Honestly I was not ready for this to happen."

Without that facility, Robertson said he expects to spend his summers wandering around or inside.

"The pool is a lightning rod this year, next year could be something different." Fougere said. 

Regina police budget heavily scrutinized: chief

The pool wasn't the only issue discussed Monday, as council also passed the Regina Police Service's budget.

Police put forward a $92 million operating budget, which is largely consumed by staffing costs.

Chief Evan Bray characterized this year's budgeting as more rigorous than last year's because of the city's financial pressures, with hopes like hiring for seven more positions left unrealized and deferring certain purchases into the years to come. 

Council will reconvene Tuesday to deliberate on the operating, capital and utility budgets.

2019 budget highlights

In total, the city is proposing an operating budget of $461 million—an increase of $18 million from 2018.

Some of the highlights include:

• Property tax increase that could mean an extra $93 a year for a home assessed at $350,000, which would translate into an additional $8 a month. 
• $127 million toward capital infrastructure, which includes building and renewing roads, bridges and buildings.
• $92 million for Regina Police Services and $49 million for Fire and Protective Services
• $49 million proposed for roads to "maintain a safe, reliable traffic network," according to the city's website.
• $42 million dedicated to sport, culture and recreation. 
• The proposed utility fund operating budget for 2019 is $139 million, an increase of $6.2 million from 2018.

The $127 million earmarked for capital infrastructure includes $7 million for a multi-year investment into the Regina police station, $1.5 million to improve Victoria Avenue between Albert Street and Broad Street and $1.5 million for designing a new outdoor water park with an additional $15 million in 2020 and 2021 for its construction.