Report to: General Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT:
PREPARED BY: Glen Taylor, Manager, Facilities Ext 3180
Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead, Community & Fire
Services Ext. 7522
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report
dated
AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to provide information to Council related to the Markham Waxers Correspondence & Deputation from the September 10th General Committee Meeting.
BACKGROUND:
The Markham Waxers Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club plays out of Centennial Community Centre arena. As a result of the ongoing renovations to the facility there have been inconveniences to their organization, as well as other patrons in the arena. Staff has met with and spoken to representatives from the club on an ongoing basis to keep them informed of construction progress and to address concerns.
The Mayor and Member of Council received an e-mail from the Manager of the Markham Waxers, Mr. Joseph Cornacchia. The President, Mr. Robert Thiessen appeared as a delegation to voice their concerns on the impact of the Centennial Community Centre renovations. Council referred the matter to staff for a report.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
Overall, the Centennial Community Centre arena has been the least affected service throughout this expansion project as the arena area is not being renovated at this time. The main inconvenience, with respect to the arena, was in the early stages of renovations related to patrons having to enter from the back of the arena. Once in the arena however, there were no impacts to the patrons or the actual participants.
It is acknowledged that for this upcoming season, which began in September, there has been inconvenience as a result of the last phase of construction involving the gymnasium and bocce courts; specifically, the closing off of five exits on the north wall of the arena which will now abut the new expansion. Fire regulations required us to rope off a number of sections of seating. The total seating capacity of Centennial Centre is 2,294. With Sections 10 and 11 unavailable, the seating capacity available is 1,687.
There are still seats on both sides of the arena and no seating under the heaters has been lost.
In examining average league attendance for the Markham Waxers in 2005/2006 at approximately 300 patrons, and staff knowledge of historical attendance, there is no issue in terms of the loss of seating for this season.
The music room, which is used for game announcing, is still available and although dressing rooms 4 and 5 are closed as a result of the construction, staff have made dressing rooms 5 and 6 available for the visiting teams. In terms of washrooms, there is one set on the northeast side that is unavailable; but the one set on the southeast corner is sufficient for the anticipated attendance.
The Markham Waxers use a total of 6 primetime hours per week, which includes two 1½ hour practices and one three hour game. This represents 12% of our total 64 hours of primetime ice available each week.
Staff are not recommending a reduction in the current hourly rate of $200 per hour charged as a result of the construction inconveniences noted. Setting this precedent could result in many other requests, both in the current year and in future when renovations may occur at other facilities.
Given the overall upgrades to other parts of Centennial Community Centre, staff has recognized the need to continue with our capital upgrades to the arena. In the 2008 Capital Budget staff is recommending to Council the following improvements at Centennial Arena of just over $500,000:
§ Replacement of dressing room flooring
§ Renovations to southwest washrooms
§ Rink board refacing
§ Lobby viewing benches
§ Replacement of all rink seating
§ New ice resurfacing lift gate
In addition, once construction is complete our commitment to create a new dressing room for the Markham Waxers, with associated storage adjacent to their coach’s room, will occur.
This report is
not intended to downplay the concerns expressed by representatives of the
Markham Waxers. The contribution and
history of this franchise providing high level hockey entertainment to fan in
the Town of
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Recreation Services
Asset Management
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________________________
Glen Taylor, Manager, Facilities
Recreation Services
________________________________________
Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead,
Recreation, Culture, Library & Fire Services
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Q:\Strategic
Services\Members\Allan Seabrooke\Report Markham Waxers Oct 15 07.doc