City of Vancouver to vote on $3.3 million facelift for Kits Pool

Vancouver City Council will vote Tuesday on a multi-million dollar project to rehabilitate one of the city’s best known outdoor pools.

The city says the aging Kitsilano Outdoor Pool, built in the late 1970’s, is in need of a major overhaul, including the complete removal and replacement of the pool tank coating and caulking, along with a series of smaller repairs and improvements.

The proposal going to council budgets $3.3 million for the job, more than double the initial $1.5 million the city had hoped to spend on the refurbishment.

WATCH: Vancouver closer to building floating pool in False Creek

2:09 Vancouver closer to building floating pool in False Creek

Vancouver put the job to tender back in July, and has now selected a $2.5 million contract bid from firm Smith Bros. & Wilson — who pitched the lowest of three bids — for the work.

Provided the work can be completed by next March, the city will be able to secure $500,000 in Canada 150 funding from the federal government.

The remaining funds over and above the original budget for the project would be reallocated from 2015-2018 multi-year budgets for capital maintenance.

The city is in the midst of reassessing its aquatic strategy — including looking at proposals for temporary pools and a potential floating outdoor pool in the Fraser River or False Creek.