As the number of staff working for the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) grows, council has approved a lease on a new space for offices.
In a May 5 special council meeting, livestreamed on Facebook, SPMRM council authorized staff to sign a lease for unit #7 in the Kookaburra Lodge. Councillor Darcy Alexander recused himself from discussion and voting as he owns a space currently leased by the municipality in the Fireside Lodge. SPMRM also lease their original space, unit #6 in the Kookaburra Lodge.
In January of 2019, staff in public works, building inspection and bylaw were moved to the Fireside Lodge location, the only commercial space available at the time.
However, with seven staff in the 473 square foot space, concerns were raised by councillors about the work environment, privacy and impact of using a valuable retail commercial space on the village stroll for an office.
With Black Beaver Athletic, located next door to the current municipal offices at #7 in the Kookaburra Lodge, vacating their location to open Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness in the newly built Sun Peaks Centre, SPMRM has arranged to connect their current space, unit #6, with #7.
The change will add 1,076 square feet of office space to the existing 1,200 square feet in unit #6.
The rate will also be lower than in the Fireside Lodge unit, a change from $30 per square foot, increasing annually, to $25 per square foot with no annual increase.
Nicky Braithwaite, director of corporate services, said the cost will be offset by operation savings found by SPMRM.
Chief administrative officer Rob Bremner added they’re working with contractors to identify the most cost effective way to update the new space.
He explained it will require lighting, new paint and floors. It will include two private areas staff can use for meetings as well as separated areas for staff to work from. The two spaces will also be joined together with plans to move the public entrance to the front of the building through unit #7, while staff will use the current hallway entrance to #6.
“Certainly it’s way better than what we currently have,” Bremner said. “In the short term in the next two or three years I think the size of the space would even allow us to grow a little bit if we had to. We could do some shuffling around and create another space or two if we needed.”
The terms of the lease include SPMRM being responsible for returning the space at #7 in good condition, including repairing any connections made between the two units.
During the meeting council also discussed long term office needs to be aware of and plan for, including a space for utilities staff near the water treatment centre, a public works yard and possible municipal office space in a second phase of the Sun Peaks Centre.
What did you think of this story?
Sun Peaks Independent News is your essential source for community news in Sun Peaks. Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
