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3. Recommendation Concerning 2009/10 Ice Skating Rink Locations CITY OF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Administration Pllone 952.2271100 Fax 952.227.111 0 Building Inspections Phone 952.2271180 Fax 952.2271190 Engineering Phone. 952.2271160 Fax 9522271170 Finance Phone 952.2271140 Fax 952.227.1110 Park & Recreation Phone 952.2271120 Fax 952227111 0 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone 952.227.1400 Fax 952.2271404 Planning & Natural Resources Ilhone 952.2271130 Fax 9522271110 Public Works 1591 Park Road Phone 9522271300 952227 1310 Senior Center Pllone 952227.1125 Fax 952227 1110 Web Site wwwcl.cI1311!laSsen.mn.us 3 ..~~~ MEMORANDUM TO: Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent FROM: John W. Stutzman, Recreation Supervisor J v 5 DATE: October 12, 2009 SUBJ: Recommendation Concerning 2009/10 Ice Skating Rink Locations Staff is recommending the elimination of three outdoor ice rinks for the 2009/10 winter season. Low user numbers combined with a desire to maximize the efficiency of limited resources are the primary drivers for this recommendation. Open skate rinks at Chanhassen Hills Park and Rice Marsh Lake Park have traditionally been maintained without warming houses, lights, or an attendant. The Roundhouse Park open skate rink had a staffed warming house and offered a single lamp light for illumination of the rink in 2008/09. In 2008/09, attendants at Roundhouse Park recorded approximately 700 users for the season during staffed hours. At a minimum, this is 1,000 less users than other staffed rink sites. In regard to the rinks at Chanhassen Hills Park and Rice Marsh Lake Park, maintenance staff observed limited signs of use at both rinks while performing daily sweeping and flooding operations. Elimination of the open skating rinks at Chanhassen Hills, Rice Marsh Lake, and Roundhouse Park will result in an estimated cost savings of approximately $3,000 to $5,000 in rink maintenance for each rink, and $4,000 for staffing of the Roundhouse Park rink. This is a total annual savings of $13,000 to $19,000. RECOMMENDA TION 2009/10 It is staff's recommendation that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Council approve the following ice skating rink locations for the 2009/10 season. Chanhassen Rec. Center - Warming House I - Family Rink 2 - Hockey Rinks North Lotus Park - Warming House I - Family Rink I - Hockey Rink City Center Park - Warming House I - Family I - Hockey Rink G/Park IRinkslllce Skating Recommendations 2009/1 0 Chanhassen is a Community for life. Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow City of Chanhassen Ice Rinks . Pleasure & Hockey Rinks . Rinks Proposed to be Eliminated N W*E S O:tober 21, 2009 RaguetWildlife Management Aru (WMA) g: \eng \joleen \parks \icerinks \rinkclosings.mxd --_.__._~ CITY OF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Chanrlassen MN 55317 Administration Phone 952.227.1100 Fax. 952.227.1110 Building Inspections Phone 952.227.1180 Fax 9522271190 Engineering Phone 952.227.1160 Fax. 952.227.1170 Finance Phone 952.227.1140 Fax 952.227.1110 Park & Recreation Phone 952.227.1120 Fax 952.227.1110 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone 952.227.1400 Fax 952.227.1404 Planning & Natural Resources Phone 952.227.1130 Fax 952.2271110 Public Works 1591 Park Road Phol1e 952.227.1300 Fax 952.227.1310 Senior Center Phone 952.227.1125 Fax 952.227.1110 Web Site www.cl.chanhassen.llll1.us October 14, 2009 Dear Chanhassen Resident: Winter is just around the comer and the city is preparing for the upcoming outdoor skating season. Last year, we flooded rinks in six parks, maintaining a total of 10 rinks--4 hockey and 6 open skate. This year we are proposing to eliminate open skate rinks at Roundhouse, Rice Marsh Lake and Chanhassen Hills Parks. Outdoor hockey rinks, open skate rinks and warming houses will remain available at the Chanhassen Recreation Center, City Center Park and North Lotus Lake Park. Overall use of outdoor skating facilities is down significantly from traditional levels of the 1970's and 80's. Lower use, coupled with a cost of approximately $3,000 to $5,000 per season to flood and maintain an outdoor open skating ice rink, are the main reasons we are proposing the elimination of three outdoor rinks. Additionally, the labor resources currently used to create, maintain, and staff these rinks could be better utilized performing other tasks. The Park and Recreation Department Commission will consider whether to approve or deny staffs recommendation to eliminate these rinks at their next meeting. If you are interested in speaking either for or against these proposed ice rink closures, please join us on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 7700 Market Boulevard. In the event you are unable to attend, but would like to submit written comments, please do so bye-mailing me at istutzman(aJ,ci.chanhassen.mn.us or feel free to contact me by phone at 952-227-1122. Sincerely, ~~ Recreation Supervisor JWS:k Chanhassen is a Community for life. Providing for Today and Planning for TOlllorrow Rink Closing Notification Areas _ Chanhassen Hills _ Rice Marsh _ Roundhouse October 20, 2009