COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIORNMENT COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Barbara M. Roth, Director, Recreation and Culture
	PREPARED BY:	Warren Watson, Fitness Coordinator
	DATE OF MEETING:	2004-Nov-15
	SUBJECT:	Fitness Centre Hours of Operation and Age Requirements

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Fitness Centre Hours of Operation and Age Requirements” be received;

And that Council approve the realignment of weekend Fitness operational hours from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;

And that approval be granted to lower the membership age limit from 18 years to 16 years;

And further that these changes be effective September 1, 2005, to coincide with the completion of the Thornhill Community Centre expansion.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to realign hours to improve attendance and to increase the youth component in our new and renovated facilities.

BACKGROUND:

The current hours of operation are:

Monday - Thursday 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

* Friday (Sept. - April) 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

(starts first Friday after

Labour Day weekend)

* Friday (May - August) 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The proposed change would affect Saturdays and Sundays only. The hours for those two days would change from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The key element of this strategy to increase attendance is to bring the fitness centre hours in alignment with member expectations. Most local fitness facilities have both longer hours and a lower age limit for participation. In order to be competitive it would be a benefit to align our hours of operation with our competitors.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The table below summarizes the annual cost involved to make the changes

Centennial Fitness - Cost Centre increase
Part-time Staff - adding 4 hours total @ regular hourly rate for part-time staff
hourly rate	wks/yr	total hours / weekend	total cost per facility
$17.10	52	8	$7,113.60
Thornhill Fitness - Cost Centre increase
Part-time Staff - adding 4 hours total @ regular hourly rate for part-time staff
hourly rate	wks/yr	total hours / weekend	total cost per facility
$17.10	52	8	$7,113.60
Total cost increase			$14,227.20

We are confident that the additional cost of $14,227.20 for extending the hours of operation will be recovered by increased membership in both the adult and youth categories.

As the changes to the hours and age limit are effective September 1, 2005, the cost for 2005 would be $4,377 ($17.10/per hour x 16 weeks x 8 hours x 2 facilities = $4,377).

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A – Hours of Operation and Holiday Hours Policy

Appendix B – Membership Classification Policy

____________________________________

Barbara M. Roth, R.D.M.R. Jim Sales

Director, Recreation and Culture Services Commissioner of Community Services

Fire Services

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