Expected to cost $14.2 million, the new fire hall is being designed to meet "future growth needs for communications, fire prevention, training and suppression," said Barrie's facilities manager Kevin Bradley.

Tonight, Barrie's Community Services Committee is to debate whether to scale back the project to stay within its original $12-million budget.

"The investment being proposed to have the station exceed LEED Silver Certification will save taxpayers $2.5 million in energy over the 50-year life of the building," said committee chairperson Coun. John Brassard, who is also working on the city's fire and emergency master plan.

"What were trying to do is reduce costs in areas that do not have an impact in our ability to expand the facility in the future. We're trying to be forward-thinking rather than build the station only to find out 10 years down the road that we need to expand it which would prove far more costly to taxpayers."

Trimming the project would ultimately result in higher costs for additions as growth occurs and the trim would wipe out creating a civic gateway to downtown, Bradley noted.

The plan features a fire service museum and reusing the Barrie Arena's wooden beams, to acknowledge the site's history. The two-storey heritage museum would face Dunlop Street West and would be home to two antique fire trucks and an antique hose wagon.

The project would also feature a bell tower and public art space, so it would become a "civic gateway into the city centre," Bradley explained.

"Regular facility tour participants from school groups and the general public will enjoy an enhanced on-site experience. Given the significance of the site as it relates to council's strategic priorities and the added civic value by investing in these urban design elements, the changes affecting urban design, programming and aesthetics that would remove these elements are not recommended."

Bradley, however, suggested the project could qualify for $1.7 million in development charges, because of the growth component, as it relates to the upgrading of the fire service but also due its expanded role and intensification downtown.

Bradley envisions issuing a tender call this fall, awarding it in December and constructing occurring from January 2010 to April 2011.

Barrie is investigating whether the project would qualify for federal economic-stimulus funding, added Brassard. "If it does qualify and we receive an infrastructure grant, it will mean more savings to Barrie taxpayers," he said.