Peachland Protective Services Building: Referendum
On October 15th, residents will be asked to vote on if they support the borrowing of up to $17.5M for the new Protective Services Building
STATION 21 TOUR: Take a video tour of where Peachland Fire & Rescue Service currently operates.
The Referendum Question
On October 15th, 2022, Peachland residents will be asked to vote on the borrowing of funds to support the development of the new Protective Services Building.
The following Referendum Question will be written on your ballot:
Are you in favour of the Corporation of the District of Peachland adopting the Protective Services Building Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2364, 2022, to authorize the borrowing of up to Seventeen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($17,500,000), over a thirty (30) year term, to fund the construction of a new Protective Services Building to accommodate the Fire Department?
About the Project
Peachland Fire & Rescue Services currently operates out of Station 21 located at 4401 3rd Street, Peachland B.C.
Why Does Peachland Need a New Protective Services Building?
The Firehall Master Plan , completed in 2021 indicated that Peachland Fire & Rescue Service faces several infrastructure challenges.
Peachland Fire & Rescue Service's current facility was not built as a fire hall, but as a Public Works / Parks facility. Therefore, it is too small to accomodate all vehicles and equipment, and does not have the facilities to keep our paid on-call firefighters safe and healthy.
Improved community and firefighter safety is the #1 reason for relocating and rebuilding Peachland Fire & Rescue Service to a larger, more centralized location.
Other reasons for a newly located and constructed Protective Services Building include:
- Improved response times for paid-on-call firefighters
- A more central location that sits between Peachland's three main neigbourhoods, adjacent to Hwy 97
- Peachland's population is growing steadily
- Greater demand for emergency services
- Fire protection is an important service to community members
- Current Station 21 is 60 years old, too small and has location constraints
- Construction costs rising
- If a new fire hall is not built at the 13th Street location, a new satellite fire hall will need to be constructed when development occurs in the Ponderosa neighbourhood, which would cost several million dollars
Tight quarters at Station 21. To read more about the defeciencies at the existing firehall, read the Firehall Master Plan (2021) .
Peachland Protective Services Building
Rendering is for Concept Only
Building Overview
- Approximately 20,000 square feet dedicated to protective services
- Enhanced response times with a more central location (direct access to major response routes)
- Meets current building and accessibility codes and standards
- Increased size of apparatus bays for more functional response to emergencies
- Added space to reduce occupational hazards
- Ground floor multi-use community space / training rooms (accessible to public)
- Proper areas to clean and decontaminate equipment after a fire (supports health and wellness of firefighters)
Mobile users: click here to view full rendering
Proposed Location
If successful with the referendum, the proposed Protective Services Building will be relocated to a District-owned property at the corner of San Clemente Ave. and 13th Street.
The proposed location will improve emergency response times with a more central location with easier access to Highway 97.
Rendering is for Concept Only
Site Plan
A. Off-site parking for additional crew
B. Proposed cul-de-sac for San Clemente Avenue (south of 13th Street)
C. On-site parking for first-out trucks
D. Apron space for trucks off 13 Street
Fire Hall Advisory Select Committee
Nine members at large and and two Council representatives applied and were selected to serve on the Fire Hall Advisory Select Committee (ASC), which as apppointed by Council early in 2022. To learn more about this committee, read the Terms of Reference and member bios.
ASC Committee Members
Fire Hall Advisory Select Committee Final Report
In September 2022, the ASC published a final report to inform the District of Peachland Mayor and Council about their new Protective Services facility and public referendum deliberations.
Paying for the Project
Estimated Project Costs
Based on the conceptual plans for the proposed Protective Services Building, the estimated cost to deliver this project is approximately $20 million. This estimate includes all associated costs for the project and includes:
- capital costs
- land acquisition and site servicing
- design and engineering
- debt servicing
- contingency
The District is seeking to borrow up to $17.5 million from the Municipal Finance Authority, if approved by residents through the referendum. The remainder of the funding will be sourced through grant opportunities.
Why does it cost an estimated $20 million?
Building a fire and emergency services centre is not like building a house. There are very specialized building requirements for protective and safety services.
Construction costs have also increased upwards of 30% in just a few years.
In the event that Council feels the project size or costs are too high (while not exceeding $17.5 million in borrowing), Council can decide to modify to the building plans or the project schedule until the extreme inflationary period subsides, or cancel the project altogether.
How do we know an estimated cost?
In July 2022, a third party costing consultant (Altus Group) conducted a Class D cost estimate that provided anticipated construction costs.
The cost estimate was based on conceptual drawings for the Protective Services Building completed by local firm, Sahuri + Associates Architecture, Inc. This level of detail is required to obtain cost estimates for the project.
How will we pay for the project?
The District is proposing to repay this $17.5 million investment through:
- annual parcel tax
- $1 million asset management reserve contribution (reduces parcel tax)
- $1 million capital reserve contribution (reduces parcel tax)
- lease revenue (reduces parcel tax)
On September 6, 2022, Council passed a resolution that will fix the maximum net parcel tax increase as a result of the Protective Services Building project to $125. This will provide Peachland residents the confidence that as a result of this project, the net increase will not exceed the approved amount.
Here's what you need to know (values are per property or parcel):
- Currently, residents pay an annual parcel tax to support District projects. At this time, this amounts to ~$782 for each property.
- Between 2023 to 2026, the Protective Services Building levy will phase in and existing levies will phase out:
- 2022: No change to parcel tax (total = $782.40)
- 2023: No change to parcel tax (total = $782.40)
- 2024: Parcel taxes = $707.40
- Firehall levy phase 1: +$50
- Sewer main trunk line debt complete: -$75
- Asset Reserve Fund: -$50
- 2025: Parcel tax = $882.40
- Firehall levy phase 2: +$175
- 2026: Parcel tax = $907.40
- Firehall levy phase 3: +$175
- Turner Park levy complete: -$100
- Apply lease payments: -$50
As a result, the overall net increase to each property is $125 per year, for a total parcel tax of ~$907.
*To help minimize the impact to taxpayers, the Protective Services Building Parcel Tax will be phased in, resulting an addition of $50 in 2024, $175 in 2025 and $175 in 2026. The District is also considering phasing it in by increasing parcel tax by $31.25 per year for four years, starting in 2023. The District will be seeking community input on the favoured approach at Info Session #2 on September 24 .
Project Timeline
October 15, 2022
Referendum Voting Day
October 6, 2022
Virtual Town Hall - A virtual Town Hall with a presentation and Q&A period was held on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 7 p.m.
October 4, 2022
Town Hall - An in-person Town Hall was held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Peachland Community Centre (4450 6 St) to provide information about the project and answer questions.
September 24, 2022
Info Session #2 - On Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Peachland Fire Department (4401 3rd St), the project team hosted a community breakfast and Open House.
July 2022
Class D Cost Estimate - District hired Altus Group to review conceptual plan (Sahuri + Associates Architecture, Inc.) and provide a Class D Cost Esimate for construction.
June 16, 2022
Info Session #1
April - June, 2022
Conceptual Design - District of Peachland engaged local firm, Sahuri + Associates Arcitecture, to develop a conceptual plan for the new Protective Services Building. This process is necessary to help determine a cost estimate for the project.
February 2022
Firehall Advisory Select Committee (ASC) - Creation of the Firehall Advisory Select Committee (ASC) who would represent residents and provide recommendations to Council and bring a responsible project forward to the community.
June 2021
Firehall Master Plan Approved - Firehall Master Plan (Behr Integrated Solutions) approved by Council, which outlines the current state and future recommendations for Station 21.
FAQs
The District of Peachland has developed a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions to provide all the information you need to know for voting day on October 15, 2022.
Something missing? Please contact us with your questions and we'd be happy to provide a response.
How to Vote
Please visit the District of Peachland's website for more information about voter eligibility, advance polls, voting locations and more.
Questions? Contact Us
Need more information about the Protective Services Building project? Contact Peachland's Fire Chief, Dennis Craig @ 250-767-2841 or via email at dcraig@peachland.ca.
Need more information about the referendum or voting process? Contact Peachland's Corporate Services Officer, Jennifer Sawatzky @ 250-767-2647 or via email at jsawatzky@peachland.ca.
