If a bid accepted by the city's administration is approved by city council, the Canada Games Centre will have a new physiotherapy centre.

In a presentation to city council Monday night, parks manager Linda Rapp and the centre's supervisor, Bernie VanHooft, said after receiving two bids on space to operate in the centre, Riverfront Physiotherapy was chosen in the tendering process.

Rapp told council that after the winning bid was approved by administration, the city entered into negotiations with the owners of Riverfront Physiotherapy.

According to information tabled at council, if approved, Riverfront's lease will run for eight years.

According to the lease offer Riverfront's fees will be $73,000, or $18 per square foot, for years one-to-three of the agreement. Years four-to-six of the term will cost $82,000-a-year, or $20 per square foot, and years seven and eight will cost $90,200, or $22 per square foot.

The business is also eligible for a leasehold allowance equal to $25 per square foot for any improvements or construction completed.

Rapp called the agreement 'consistent' with what people could expect to pay in downtown Whitehorse.

Riverfront co-owner Anne Milton said this morning she bid on the Canada Games Centre space because her business was looking to expand the number of services they offer to the community.

'We've been looking for space for a while and feel going there will allow us to do that and to contribute to the Canada Games Centre,' Milton said.

She said she would likely be adding to her staff of five physiotherapists, one athletic therapist and three support staff by adding additional services such as massage therapy.

She said she wasn't sure if the clinic would maintain its current location.

'We will assess the viability of maintaining a downtown location,' she said.

In a series of questions and comments to Rapp, Coun. Doug Graham said he was not comfortable with offering a tenant of the Canada Games Centre the $25 allowance because it would likely mean the city would not collect any rent for the first year of the contract and would actually lose money during the first year of the agreement.

'Why would we charge them $18 and then turn back and give them $25? Why would we do that?,' Graham asked.

'We're looking to pay out $100,000 and only collect about $70,000. They could potentially be operating rent-free,' Graham said.

Answering Graham's questions, VanHooft said the agreement was standard and it was often the case that owners provided compensation for building and set up costs of a new tenant.

'In this type of agreement, set up costs are taken into account. The city will take over the property at the end of the lease (and keep the improvements),' he said.

Listing his own concerns, Coun. Dave Stockdale said he knew of some doctors who didn't respect the physiotherapy profession and was wondering if the city would be legally liable if something were to happen to someone seeking physiotherapy services at the centre.

'I know some physicians who are not crazy about sending people to physiotherapists, would we have any exposure there?' Stockdale asked.

According to Rapp and VanHooft, the city would not be on the hook as a result of any patient problems experienced by the tenant.

Milton said she was surprised to hear Stockdale's comments because she has experienced nothing but support from the Whitehorse medical community.

'That's (the level of support) was one of the main reasons I came to Whitehorse.

'I've yet to have a problem and I've been here 10 years,' she said.