A rendering of the proposed Codiac Regional RCMP Facility (Image: City of Moncton)
A new Codiac Regional Policing Facility will leave Metro Moncton taxpayers on the hook for $57.2 million.
Moncton City Council voted to move ahead with the new policing facility during Monday’s public meeting. Located on Albert St., a new building will replace the current Main St. structure built in the 1970s.
As part of council’s motion, an application to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board will request an additional amount of $8.3 million. Previously, the board approved the city to borrow for the old costs.
In addition, council directed administration to issue a tender for the construction of the new facility. According to city staff, the tender will be awarded in 2022 and construction could begin in the spring.
Through a presentation, staff revealed the new cost of the facility is $ 57.2 million, marking a substantial increase from the previously estimated $46 million.
This was the first time council discussed the updated price tag in a public meeting after talks during an April meeting withheld the costs.
According to Rodney Robinson, a representative from Colliers, the increase is largely attributed to COVID-19 with a rise in material costs, as well as labour and supply chain issues.
“The $57.2 million of our total project cost estimate includes already a roughly $1.6 million in savings that we found. The team has gone back and looked at ways we could trim the building,” Robinson told council.
While Moncton will carry the brunt of the load as the holder of the debt, the Town of Riverview and the City of Dieppe will be responsible for paying rent.
Before council voted on the motion, significant concerns were raised over the provision of policing in Moncton.
Ward 4 Councillor Paul Richard cited recommendations from Canada’s Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security as well as the Union of New Brunswick Municipalities that would see municipalities establish their own police forces.
“I do believe that the City of Moncton should pause the construction of the police station until the fate of the RCMP as a municipal policing services provider is determined more definitely,” Richard said
John Pepper of RPL Architects, a firm that specializes in design services for police and emergency facilities, told council the proposed structure would have difficulty adapting for an independent police service. This is in large part to the additional staffing typically needed for independent policing organizations.
Richard, along with Shawn Crossman, Daniel Bourgeois and Bryan Butler, voted against the motion.
