09-23-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Business September 23, 2014 Page 7 of 10 Council Business 1. Consideration of approval to open Sunny Square Ice Rink and Warming House (Neighborhood Center) for the 2014-2015 Season. Report No. 14-245. City Manager Lotter indicated Parks and Recreation Director Breuer and Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Hicks would be presenting this item to the CmIDcil. Assistant PaIks and Recreation Director Hicks stated to meet the request ofSlU1llY Square Park Petitioners and other city residents, a hockey and pleasure skating rink would be created and maintained at SlU1lly Square Park It was noted the last time this parle had rinks was back in 2005-2006. Staff noted there were three different costs related to opening and maintaining outdoor rinks at SlU1lly Square. These costs include equipment, labor and utilities. Two pieces of equipment require replacement or repair prior to opening outdoor rinks at Sunny Square, lighting fixtures and hockey boards. Lights provide adequate lighting to allow participants to see during the evening hours. The hockey boards need different pieces of wood replaced to keep pucks and skaters inside the rink. Estimates costs for these two projects are $1,500 for lighting fixtures and $250 to repair the hockey boards. Labor costs are separated into two different time frames, preseason flooding and in season maintenance. The preseason flooding includes creating a proper base and building the ice surface to a skateable depth. The in season maintenance includes resurfacing the ice as well as snow removal. The staffing projections include 22.5 hours of preseason flooding to create the rink and 55.5 hours of in season maintenance to create and maintain a hockey rink at SlU1lly Square. The staffing projection to create and maintain a pleasure skating rink is a total of25 hours. This equates to a total of$4,200 in personnel related costs to create and maintain and create a hockey and pleasure skating rink at SlU1lly Square Parle. There would not be an actual financial impact for personnel, as current staff would undertake these projects. However, the 103 hours required to create and maintain the rinks would lessen the amount of hours spent on other Park Maintenance projects during the ice makinglmaintaining season. Staff did not have data available to determine the exact utility costs to provide lights for the rinks at SlU1lly Square Park This projection is based off past electrical bills at Freedom Park These bills show an increase of approximately $700 during the months of outdoor rinks are open compared to other months. Because the lights would be on for approximately 50% of the time as Freedom Park, $350 is an estimated cost for utilities. It was noted that Sunny Square Park Petitions will recruit and schedule volunteers to staff the warming house during the season. Volunteers would be required to attend the City's preseason outdoor rink staff trainings and follow all established City rules and policies. Volunteers would be responsible to open/secure the warming house during the posted hours of operation. Staff recommended the Council approve opening the SlU1lly Square Ice Rinks for the 2014-2015 season. Mayor Jacobsen asked if there was a cost to the City to schedule hockey time at the proposed rinks. Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Hicks reported staff would not be scheduling events at the rinks, but rather would be available for open skating or team hockey play. He explained that Hanson Park would be available for team rentals. Parks and Recreation Director Breuer indicated this rink would have more limited use and would be open to serve the neighborhood. Councilmember Burg asked if the volunteers at the warming house would be screened Parks and Recreation Director Breuer stated the City would require all volunteers to attend all of the City's training. She noted that the volunteer scheduling would be completed by Jim Cabala Councilmember Bauman appreciated the efforts of the park petitioners and Mr. Cabala She was pleased that this amenity would be open again for the benefit of the neighboring children. Jim Cabala, SlU1lly Square Parle Petitioner, thanked staff for their assistance. He looked fOIWafd to having the park open again for hockey. He explained he would be willing to repair the boards if damage were to occur for the safety of the children using the rink. Councilmember Burg supported the proposed ice rinks for Sunny Square Ice Rink. Mayor Jacobsen thanked Mr. Cabala for coming fOIWafd with his petition. Motion by Councilmember Bauman, seconded by Councilmember Jacobsen to approve opening the Sunny Square Ice Rinks for the 2014-2015 season. 1. Consideration of approval to open Sunny Square Ice Rink and Warming House (Neighborhood Center) for the 2014- 2015 Season. Report No. 14-245.