Costs nearly double to replace gas-fueled boilers at Rocky Point Pool – Tri-Cities Dispatch

Oct 18, 2024

Ensuring the outdoor pool at Rocky Point is heated next summer has become a lot more expensive for the city.

The cost to replace a pair of gas-fueled boilers has nearly doubled from the initial 2023 estimate, according to a staff report to council on Oct. 15 which requested an additional $135,045 to cover the shortfall.

Council approved the funding request by a 5-2 vote, with Couns. Callan Morrison and Kyla Knowles voicing concerns that one of the boilers was only five-years old.

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“To fast-track a replacement to assist with hitting our lofty GHG emission goals at an accelerated timeline doesn’t make sense to me,” Morrison said, describing it as “wasting money.”

Rocky Point Pool is the fourth highest emitting city owned facility, releasing over 50 tonnes of emissions annually, according to a recent energy study, and Port Moody’s Climate Action Plan has committed to spending $5.9 million over the next six years to make its civic facilities more energy efficient.

A number of carbon-reducing measures for Rocky Point Pool were previously identified, including replacing the boilers for the main pool and tot pool with electrical heat pumps, as well as adding thermal pool covers on both to reduce heat loss.

Manager of Facilities Val Tepes said replacing the at least 25-year-old boiler for the main pool is “way overdue,” adding it has already “catastrophically failed” twice. “It’s not going to be operational next year if we don’t replace it,” he said.

The initial capital budget to replace the boilers was $244,000, but a new construction estimate has ballooned that figure to $455,438 due to increased costs for electrical distribution upgrades, equipment, general contracting, and unexpected work requirements.

While the pool covers were estimated to reduce emissions by 20.8 tonnes annually, staff recommended terminating the project and reallocating the funds to cover the boiler replacements.

Tepes noted the Rocky Point Pool is only open in the late spring and summer when there’s a substantial reduction in the heat differentiation between night and day, stating the added expense was not justified.

Although the tot pool boiler still has at least a decade before it reaches the end of its life, staff recommended swapping it now for a more efficient heat pump to synchronize equipment purchases, contractor expenses, and future replacements.

Morrison, however, pointed to the burden on taxpayers struggling with the cost of living.

Knowles agreed, referencing previous council discussions where it had been suggested Rocky Point Pool would be removed in 10 years. She further inquired whether the smaller boiler could be re-sold, but staff said there was not a market.

“The pool doesn’t have a long run. It’s got 10 years, tops,” Knowles said. “I really don’t see this as a good use of the city’s money.”

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki agreed that if the pool only has a short lifespan, it reduces the value of the replacement projects, but said council can’t afford to wait due to the long-term impacts of climate change.

Replacing the main pool boiler with heat pumps would reduce emissions by 25.6 tonnes annually, and replacing the tot pool would reduce emissions by 4.7 tonnes, according to staff.

Coun. Samantha Agtarap pointed out the relatively new boiler for the tot pool is significantly smaller than the main pool boiler, and would only have a fraction of the replacement cost.

Tepes confirmed its original purchase price was only $3,500, describing it as a “very tiny piece of equipment” considering the larger cost scheme of the project.

Mayor Meghan Lahti said that while she appreciated the opposing councillors’ concerns, in the long run it was more financially feasible to pay for the replacements today.

Coun. Diana Dilworth agreed, adding the sooner council acts, the sooner it will see a reduction in emissions.

The additional costs will be funded through the city’s climate action reserves.