The District of West Kelowna has shortlisted four Westbank Centre locations as potential sites for its new Municipal Hall.
Mayor Doug Findlater made the announcement at the beginning of the district’s council meeting Tuesday night.
“Council has selected four proponents to proceed with the request for proposals stage in the development of West Kelowna Civic Centre Project in Westbank Centre,” said Findlater.
The four groups being asked to submit proposals include: Town Centre Partners Group (relating to 3656 Brown Road), New Town/Sturgess Group (relating to 3641 Elliott Road), Maple Reinders Group (relating to 3717 Elliott Road with secured purchase agreement for adjacent sites at 2495 Main Street and 3711 Elliott Road) and Total Concept Group (relating to 2528 Main Street).
The district launched a request for qualifications process in November 2013, which garnered nine submissions.
According to Kirsten Jones, communications supervisor with the district, the submissions were evaluated based on: Project team members, experience in design and construction, site location and financial capacity. A score was assigned, with the highest scoring proponents being selected.
The next step in the process will begin in February, with the release of a conceptual design request for proposals to the shortlisted proponents.
The candidates will prepare detailed technical and financial proposals, which will be evaluated against a set of predetermined evaluation criteria.
Jones said project consultant Jonathan Huggett has been instrumental in determining that criteria.
She added there isn’t a specific cost associated with the project at this point in time, as the district is open to a variety of ideas of how the Municipal Hall/Civic Centre can be built.
“It could be anything: Commercial or residential pieces to it. All we’re saying (is that) we’ve narrowed it down to these four groups,” said Jones.
“There are all kinds of different ways to see a municipal building built—we’re very open at this point.”
The district has agreed to pay an honorarium of up to $25,000 to each of the unsuccessful candidates to offset the cost of preparing detailed proposals.
The District of West Kelowna currently operates offices out of 2760 Cameron Road.
Jones said district staff could potentially have a report with initial information back to council by June.
wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
Twitter: @PatersonWade
