Report to: General Committee                          Date Report Authored: November 29, 2010

 

 

SUBJECT:                         Cricket Pitch Allocation Policy

PREPARED BY:              Colin Service, Manager Planning & Policy Development

                                            Martin Barrow, Facility Allocations Coordinator

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)                  THAT the report entitled “Cricket Pitch Allocation Policy” be received;

 

2)                  AND THAT Council endorse the Cricket Pitch Policy, giving staff the authority to allocate time on pitches in accordance with the policy ;

 

3)                  AND THAT staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

1. Purpose  2. Background  3. Discussion  4. Financial 

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to inform council of the development of an allocation policy for cricket pitches and to seek endorsement from Council for the policy attached.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

The Town of Markham has seen significant growth and emergence of a new and diverse population base.  With this growth and changes in the community, demand for new types of facilities has emerged.  The sport of cricket is growing quickly around the world.  The Town of Markham has a large base of participants in the sport of cricket with more and more people coming forward every year with a desire to play.  Currently the Town of Markham has one full sized, high caliber cricket pitch at Fairtree Park and two smaller pitches at McCowan Reservoir. 

 

Staff began hosting a series of meetings this fall with all user groups to gather their input in and support for the development of a more formal Cricket Pitch Allocation Policy.  All user groups that permitted time on a pitch in 2009 were invited to participate.

 

Four meetings were held with the user groups to receive feedback and to ensure that a fair and equitable method of distribution was adopted.  The policy put forth represents the culmination of efforts of these user groups.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

In approaching the development of allocation policies the following principles were critical to the process:

 

Guiding Principles:

o  Town facilities are built by, and funded for Markham residents.

o  All members of the community should have opportunity to access town facilities regardless of physical, financial, social or environmental barriers.

o  Town facilities serve as a fabric of the community creating opportunities for individuals to connect to one another and the community.

o  Town facilities provide an excellent environment to promote, encourage and facilitate lifelong active living.

 

Policy Principles:

o  Allocations will be handled in an open and transparent environment.

o  An Allocation Policy will ensure the distribution of Town facilities in a fair and equitable manner, respecting issues of accessibility.

o  Allocations will be reviewed on an annual basis.

o  Groups meeting Markham residency requirements will receive priority.

o  Where facility demand exceeds supply, the Town may have to limit the emergence of new user groups.

o  Children/Youth should receive preference of hours when allocating time.

 

These principles serve as the foundation of all allocation policies.  Out of this foundation there are unique methods of calculation of time distribution that are developed and approved by the participating user groups.  For the sport of Cricket, the user groups overwhelmingly felt that Markham Residency should be the primary criteria.  Further, they felt it was important to classify the pitches as follows and to ensure that allocation as done by field classification type:

 

Fairtree Park – Class A

McCowan Reservoir – Class B

 

Please see appendix A for the specific policy.

 

The user groups have all agreed that this attached policy represents the fairest way to allocate time at the pitch for the upcoming 2011 season.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not Applicable

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS

Not Applicable

 

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Growth Management – Markham is a diverse and rapidly growing community. As Markham grows we need to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the community by offering enough arenas, swimming, sports fields, and green space. The Town of Markham is actively involved in the development new community centers, parks and open spaces in emerging areas of Markham. While it is important to develop new facilities, it is equally important to ensure responsible usage of existing facilities as addressed in the Allocation Policy.

 

Municipal Services - Markham’s mission statement is “working with the community to provide high quality municipal services that meet, if not exceed, the expectations of Town residents and businesses” In order to meet, if not exceed the expectations of the Town’s residents it is essential to allocate time in a fair, equitable and transparent manner.

 

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Parks Operations

 

RECOMMENDED

                           BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Mary Creighton                                 Brenda Librecz

                                      Director, Recreation Services           Commissioner, Community

                                                                                                & Fire Services

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix “A” – Cricket Pitch Allocation Policy