Summary: real estate development

The City of Joensuu owns many buildings it no longer uses, and attempts have been made to sell them. Real estate maintenance costs burden the finances of the City’s Facilities Centre and increase staff workload. The Facilities Centre does not have sufficient resources for active real estate development, including sales measures. Real estate development also requires other development efforts, such as changing the purpose of use and zoning.

In operational terms, it is important that disused properties will be the focus of active real estate development as early as possible in the future, or demolished.

The Council was presented with three lines of action that could support active real estate development.

1. The current model as part of the Facilities Centre
2. The City's internal real estate development unit
3. A property development company to which ownership of the real estate would be transferred

In the context of a real estate development company, a model in which other than disused properties would also be transferred to the company was introduced to the councillors.

Summary: swimming pools

There are two swimming pools in Joensuu: Virkistysuimala Vesikko in Mehtimäki and Rantakylä swimming pool in Rantakylä. Rantakylä swimming pool needs to be renovated. Renovating Vesikko swimming pool is not technically and economically feasible.

The Council was shown calculations concerning four options for swimming pools in Joensuu. In all options, Vesikko swimming pool would be demolished, and a new swimming pool would be built in Mehtimäki.

1. Single swimming pool
   • A new swimming pool would be built in Mehtimäki. In this option, Rantakylä swimming pool would be demolished rather than renovated.
   • Investment cost EUR 37,400,000.
      
2. Single swimming pool with spectator stand
   • A new swimming pool with a spectator stand and other facilities, in which larger competitions could be organised, would be built in Mehtimäki. In this option, Rantakylä swimming pool would be demolished rather than renovated.
   • Investment cost EUR 40,100,000.
      
3. Two swimming pools
   • A new swimming pool would be built in Mehtimäki. Rantakylä swimming pool would be renovated.
   • Investment cost EUR 42,620,000.
      
4. Two swimming pools, one with a spectator stand
   • A new swimming pool with a spectator stand and other facilities, in which larger competitions could be organised, would be built in Mehtimäki. Rantakylä swimming pool would be renovated.
   • Investment cost EUR 46,170,000.

In the single swimming pool models, accommodating the users of Rantakylä swimming pool in the new pool has been factored in.

Summary: libraries

Joensuu Regional Library comprises 18 libraries and three mobile libraries, of which 11 libraries and two mobile libraries operate in Joensuu area. The other branches of the Regional Library are located in Liperi, Kontiolahti, Outokumpu and Polvijärvi.

The Regional Library branches with the lowest levels of use are found in Tuupovaara, Kiihtelysvaara, Uimaharju and Heinävaara. The numbers of loans taken out of these libraries have dropped by almost one half over the past ten years.

The planning of the library network is affected by possible changes in the primary school network, the need to renovate premises, trend in resident numbers in the area, need for library services, and termination of a lease.

The Council was presented with an option in which the libraries in Kiihtelysvaara and Tuupovaara would be replaced with a mobile library, and Uimaharju library would move to the school premises if this were feasible considering the number of pupils. The change would take place in 2025 in Kiihtelysvaara, in 2028 in Tuupovaara, and in 2026–2029 in Uimaharju.

The Council was additionally presented with the option of reducing the presence of staff in the libraries of the eastern region (Eno, Uimaharju, Reijola, Pyhäselkä, Heinävaara, Kiihtelysvaara and Tuupovaara). These changes would take place between 2025 and 2026. The possibility of having a self-service library, cooperation with schools, events and the provision of home services would be accounted for in this change.

• Kiihtelysvaara library will be replaced with a mobile library service in 2025
• Tuupovaara library will be replaced with a mobile library service in 2028
• Uimaharju library will move into the school in 2026–2029
• Presence of staff in libraries in the eastern region will be reduced in 2025–2026

The cost impact of the libraries in the proposal is EUR 227,800 a year. The personnel impacts would be managed through retirements.

Summary: customer service points

The City of Joensuu has five customer service points: Carelicum, Eno, Hammaslahti, Kiihtelysvaara and Tuupovaara. The activities of the customer service points have changed in recent years, and the number of customers has decreased significantly. There is no demand for some of the services provided.

An option where the range of services offered by the customer service points and the employees’ job descriptions would be clarified was proposed to the Council. This would make it possible to reduce the number of service points and replace them with outreach services. The changes would take place in 2024–2026. An effort would be made to manage the personnel impacts through retirements and changes in job descriptions.

Summary: youth services and facilities

The City of Joensuu has 11 youth facilities: Eno youth centre Nurkka, Hammaslahti youth centre, Heinävaara youth centre, Kiihtelysvaara youth centre, Youth Centre Whisper, Rantakylä youth centre Bobo, Reijola youth centre, Sinkkola youth centre and residential house, Sirkkala mobility centre, Tuupovaara youth centre and Uimaharju youth centre Noke. A mini farm operates in the outdoor area of Sinkkola in May–August.

The utilisation rates of these facilities vary considerably from area to area. Changes in the demographic structure influence the need for the facilities. In Whisper and Sirkkala, for example, the activities are expanding, and there is a need for additional resources.

The option of transferring the youth facilities in Tuupovaara and Kiihtelysvaara to Heinävaara, and centralising the youth facilities in Uimaharju to Eno School or Uimaharju School was presented to the Council. Depending on the way they are carried out, these changes would take place in 2025 or later.

In addition, an option where Sinkkola youth centre, residential building and mini farm would be abandoned was brought to the Council. Operating the mini farm requires a lot of staff, and according to the proposal, it is not part of the core activities of youth services. A model in which the activities would be continued by non-city actors will be examined for the mini farm.

• Tuupovaara and Kiihtelysvaara youth facilities will move to Heinävaara in 2025
• Uimaharju youth centre will move to Eno or Uimaharju School, the schedule will depend on how the change is carried out
• Sinkkola will be abandoned

Depending on the way the changes are carried out, the cost impact of the proposal regarding youth services and facilities would be approx. EUR 186,000 a year.

According to the proposal, the human resources of youth services would be reallocated rather than reduced.