Renovations to the women’s locker room at the New Westminster Police Department are going to cost less than originally anticipated.
City council has approved an amendment to the five-year capital budget so renovations to the women’s locker room can be completed.
An architect who prepared the preliminary design for reconfiguring the existing space, which would accommodate additional lockers, shower facilities, washrooms and sink and counter space, estimated the cost to be $280,500 (including a 15 per cent contingency).
“We went with Plan A, the cheaper one, which is also the one that people preferred,” Chief Const. Dave Jones told the Record. “The reason it was less expensive is that a lot of plumbing is in place there, which is a big expense.”
Council previously gave approval to the renovations but has now amended the capital budget so the project can proceed. It was originally estimated the renovation in the building at 555 Columbia St. would cost $350,000 to $400,000.
Jones said the police department has 33 or 34 female members, which is 27 per cent of the force.
Forty-two per cent of the hirings in the last two years have been female, he said, and that recruiting trend is anticipated to continue so the department reflects the community.
“The majority of our civilian staff are female,” he said, noting they also use the gym at the police station.
“They have no locker space in the locker room. They have all been evicted from the locker room because (officers) need lockers – you can’t take your uniform home or your gun home. The facility is inadequate for the number of female members we have.”
Staff have determined that the project can be accommodated within the city’s five-year capital plan by deferring other projects.
“It doesn’t have to be any one thing, it can be a couple of small things that add up,” Jones said. “Some of them are naturally deferred.”
