Kelowna

It's a common mantra for any mega project -- "on time and on budget."

That's how Randy Cleveland described progress on the $46.3 million Mission Aquatic Centre. To date, $35.4 million has been spent on the project.

During a presentation to City Council, Cleveland said the pool was still scheduled for completion in February, 2009.

Cleveland also indicated four major additions have been made to the project including a public transit exchange, enhanced public balcony, more east-view glazing in fitness studio and a $100,000 public art proposal for the exterior of the facility.

Cleveland adds the entire Mission Recreation facility will soon become a significant recreational park.

"Twinning of the CNC, the addition of a community centre and two quad softball fields are not yet done. Outside of that, the entire recreation park is already nearly at full build-out with 15 fields and three major facilities on the site."

The aquatic centre includes an Olympic size 50 metre pool, 2,200 square metre water park and 930 square metre fitness centre.

Cleveland says the building was designed to create better revenue recovery.

"We know the play side of that building will derive income more productively than the large tank will."

Councillor Andre Blanleil, petitioned council to consider a two tier fee schedule for the aquatic centre with one rate for Kelowna taxpayers and a second rate for non-residents.

"Should we be looking at other areas to pay for some of this? I don't know if we can get to the region with this, but there could be some sort of user fee," says Blanleil.

"This is not like a soccer field or a hockey rink. Here' we're talking about a large subsidy from Kelowna taxpayers. It's a $46 million facility with a large operating budget."

Council declined the idea.

Meantime City Development Manager, Reid Oddleifson, told council a steering committee on corporate naming rights for the Mission Aquatic Centre was close to making its final report.

"We are actively working on that and I will be bringing a report back to council within the next two weeks," says Oddleifson.

Council also approved a Management and Operating Agreement between the City and the YMCA-YWCA to operate the facility for a 39 month period and a five year deal with Jugo Juice Canada to run the facility's concession.