It appears an idea to develop an outdoor skating rink at Tudhope Park is on thin ice - at best.
At Monday’s budget committee meeting, city councillors - in a narrow 5-4 vote - decided against bringing the concept to next week’s budget deliberations.
That, essentially, means the idea cannot see the light of day unless council opts to change its mind at its Dec. 7 meeting of council during which budget decisions are ratified.
At a Nov. 9 meeting, Coun. Mason Ainsworth won the support of his council colleagues to have staff prepare a report about the feasibility of and associated costs related to creating an outdoor rink at the popular park.
On Monday, Kyle Mitchell, the city’s manager of source protection and operations, presented that report that carried a staff recommendation to reject the idea due to the challenges and cost - especially as council had previously directed staff to develop a zero per cent budget.
The report said the city would have to come up with about $67,000 to add another rink to the seven other outdoor rinks the city already operates.
But Ainsworth noted the costs are not tied directly to the new rink at Tudhope.
For example, the report calls for the hiring of two new seasonal employees at a cost of about $33,000. Ainsworth pointed out those staff members would be used to help keep all local outdoor rinks open and accessible.
“These staff members would not be exclusive to J.B. Tudhope Park,” said Mitchell. “They would actually be used to help out with (all) outside rinks.”
He said the city’s full time staff who help with rinks “also do duties in facilities throughout the winter so we do have some challenges. Council has noted on occasion they would like to see better service (on rinks) ... so these staff members would help out with all rinks throughout the city.”
Ainsworth also questioned the report’s call to spend $10,000 on a truck cap that would “essentially be used” to ensure hoses don’t freeze up during trips between city rinks.
And he said the city could pursue community sponsorships to cover the costs of renting lighting for the rink - estimated to cost about $13,000 for the season - further reducing the potential cost.
He asked for his colleagues' support to approve the concept so it at least could be debated during budget deliberations next week.
He had support from Tim Lauer.
“I think outdoor activities could be hugely important in the next few months,” said Lauer, who noted “traditionally we have fought with the weather” when it comes to maintaining the outdoor rinks.
“I appreciate the staffing issues. But of all years for us to react, I think this would be the one,” said Lauer.
However, he conceded “$67,000 to put in a rink … that, of course, is not going to wash at budget.”
He suggested a different approach, foregoing heavy equipment and employing people with shovels and snowblowers.
“Do we have to go to the deluxe model? Is there some sort of compromise that might be doable, that might be affordable (and make) perfect sense,” he asked.
Mitchell said staff did evaluate putting a rink on the frozen surface of Moose Beach, but said getting equipment “on and off the lake will be a challenge,” noting a piece of equipment plunged through the water at the Couchiching Beach rink a few years ago.
He said using snow blowers is too time consuming and takes much longer than using heavy equipment.
Andrew Schell, the city’s general manager of environment and infrastructure services, said the lake option is not favoured.
“I certainly understand council’s desire to have a rink (at Tudhope Park),” said Schell. “From my perspective, having a rink on the lake creates a greater liability for the city. It would be my recommendation, if we were to look at a rink, to have it on land.”
He said with the topsy turvy winters of late, lake ice has been difficult to maintain and “ends up being a much shorter season” compared to rinks on land. In addition, lighting the rink on the lake is more challenging.
In the end, a majority of council voted against the idea of creating a new outdoor rink at Tudhope Park. Ainsworth said he believes many will be upset by the decision.
“People in our community are going to be disappointed with the five members of city council when they find out that in a 5-4 vote council decided to vote against discussing the idea at budget,” Ainsworth told OrilliaMatters after Monday’s meeting.
He said it’s especially frustrating because at next week’s budget meeting “they will be discussing a $3.2-million skating trail, but yet they didn’t want to discuss a much more affordable option to create an outdoor skating rink.”
He suggests people who are “disappointed” by the decision to contact the mayor and council to voice their concerns.
THE COST
According to the staff report, here’s a breakdown of the estimated additional costs associated with the new rink:
- Salaries and wages for two seasonal park operators – $33,000
- Collection/Distribution operator time - $4,000
- Equipment rental to own - $2,000
- Materials:
o ToolCat rental - $4,100 per month ($20,500 for 5 months)
o Hose - $500
o Pickup truck cap - $10,000
o Heating unit for back of truck - $500
o Rental lighting - $13,400 (5 months), if night-time skating is recommended.
This option does not include water/electricity costs. Total estimated cost impact to the operating budget is approximately $67,500.
