Report to: General Committee                                                    Report Date: January 21, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Markham Waxers Correspondence & Deputation from November 12, 2007, General Committee Meeting

PREPARED BY:               Glen Taylor, Manager, Facilities Ext 3180

                                            Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead, Community & Fire

                                                 Services Ext. 7522

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated January 21, 2008, titled “Markham Waxers Correspondence & Deputation from November 12, 2007, General Committee Meeting be received;

 

AND THAT the current hourly ice rate of $200.00 per hour for the Markham Waxers remain as approved by council.

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide information to Council related to the Markham Waxers Correspondence & Deputation from the November 12th 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 the other patrons of the arena. 

 

In September 2007, Mr. Robert Thiessen, President of the Markham Waxers Junior A Hockey Club, appeared as a delegation to voice concerns on the impact of the Centennial Community Centre renovations.  The matter was referred to staff for a report which was provided to Council at the October 15, 2007, General Committee meeting.

 

Mr. Robert Thiessen, President of the Markham Waxers Junior A Hockey Club, appeared again at the November 12, 2007, General Committee meeting to speak to the matter and in particular to voice his concerns on the cost of ice time.  Mr. Thiessen noted that only the teams games are played in peak ice time and it is a minor hockey organization.

 

Council referred the matter back to staff to provide a response to the following issues that were raised during the discussion:

 

1.      The extent of the impairment experienced by the team during the renovations of the Centennial Community Centre.

2.      The geographic composition of the team.

3.      The revenue impacts of granting an ongoing discount or one off credit for ice time.

4.      The comparable rates for ice time offered in other municipalities.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 

1.  The Extent of the Impairment

Overall, the Centennial Community Centre arena has been the least affected area of the building during renovations; however, it is acknowledged, that there is an ongoing inconvenience as a result of the last phase of construction involving the lobby, public washrooms, gymnasium, bocce centre etc. The closing off of five fire exits on the north wall of the arena, which abuts the new expansion, was required to meet fire regulations, as well as the need to rope off two sections of seating.  The total seating capacity of the Centennial Community Centre arena is 2,294.  With Sections 10 and 11 unavailable, the seating capacity available is now 1,687.  There are still seats on both sides of the arena and no seating under the heaters has been lost.

 

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 washroom, 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.

 

2.  The Geographic Composition of the Team

Mr. Joseph Cornacchia, Manager of the Markham Waxers Junior A Hockey Club has confirmed that six of the 22 team players are Town of Markham residents. This would represent a 27% residency rate. It should be noted that the Town of Markham ice allocation policy allocates ice based on the following, Minor Sports Groups, 100% Markham residents, Adult, 75% Markham residents.   

 

3.  The Revenue Impacts of Granting an Ongoing Discount or One Off Credit

Currently the team uses the following ice times for practice Tuesdays 4pm – 6pm, Wednesdays 5pm – 6:30pm, Thursdays 5pm – 6pm, with games being held on Fridays from 7pm – 10pm for a total of 7.5hrs per week. This represents 12% of the 64 hours of primetime ice available each week.  Based on current use of 7.5 hours per week, the Waxers will use 225 hours during the 2007-2008 season; not including the playoffs.

 

If financial compensation was to be considered due to the construction; council would need to consider the remaining 56.5 user hours. This would include the minor hockey associations, adult leagues and private rentals.

 

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.  Any changes would need to be reflected in the operating budget for the community centre.

 

4.  The Comparable Rates for Ice Time Offered in Other Municipalities

Addendum 1 shows the ice rates charged to 26 of the 32 teams in the league. Six of the teams and or the facilities were not willing to provide this information. The current rate structure for the Town of Markham is:

 

Prime Time Monday to Friday 4pm to 11pm, all day Saturdays and Sundays.

Minor Groups / Schools            $144.00 per hour

Resident                                   $179.00 per hour

Junior A                                   $200.00 per hour

Commercial                              $237.50 per hour

The rational for the various rates is that the Minor Sports groups are non-profit organizations operated by volunteers and the Junior A Team is an incorporated business with paid personnel.  The Junior A rate was developed to recognize the benefit to the Community, especially to the Minor Hockey players who aspire to play at that level. If this rate was not established the Junior team would fall into the higher Commercial rate based on residency percentages.

 

5.  Other considerations

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 Mr. Thiessen of the Markham Waxers.  The contribution and history of this franchise providing high level hockey entertainment to fans in the Town of Markham is well respected and acknowledged.  Be assured, staff will continue to work with representatives to minimize inconveniences as much as possible.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Recreation Services

Asset Management

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    _____________________                                                               

Glen Taylor,                                       Allan Seabrooke,

  Manager, Facilities                              Commission Lead, Community & Fire Services

                                     

ATTACHMENTS:

Addendum 1

 

Q:\Recreation\Glen\Report Markham Waxers Dec 07.doc