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Home My WebLink About28 ROLLER HOCKEY UPDT 06-06-94AGE-NDA NO. 28 6-6-94 DATE: JUNE 6, 1994 lnter-Com TO: FROM: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER COMMUNITY SERVICES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS SUBJECT: ROLLER HOCKEY UPDATE RECOMMENDATION Pleasure of the City Council. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION 'In November 1992 staff presented the Parks and Recreation Commission with a report which explored the possibility of starting a roller hockey league, in Tustin. The conclusion of the report was that a suitable facility for the program has not been identified in Tustin. In addition, concerns regarding liability insurance and where start-up funds would come from were raised. At the time, staff directed interested parties to attend the Sports Park Task Force meeting,' Several participants at the meeting wanted roller hockey facilities in Tustin. HoWever, other facilities for tennis, softball, soccer and basketball were given a higher priority. In November 1993, a specific potential facility operator, Tustin In-Line Skate and.Hockey gave a presentation to the Tustin Area Youth Issues Committee. The presentation focused on converting tennis courts at .Currie into a roller hockey facility. Opposition to the plan came from those who didn't want to see the City lose any tennis facilities. Tustin In-Line Skate was referred to the Tustin Unified School District for future discussions regarding Currie School.. ._ ~ Tustin In-Line Skate submitted a proposal to the Tustin Unified School Board in February, 1994. The proposal outlined a plan to convert all four Currie tennis courts into a rink with a portion of net revenues to be paid to the School District. Tustin In-Line Skate offered to pay for 100% of the site improvements. Unfortunately, the School Board and District rejected the plan. In late April 1994 two representatives of Tustin In-Line Skate and Hockey met with Councilman Ports and City staff to discuss assistance from the City in their development of a skate and hockey facility in Tustin on City facilities. If an outdoor site could be identified with existing concrete (like tennis courts), Tustin In- Line Skate and Hockey proposed 100% funding by their company. City Council Report Roller Hockey Update June 6, 1994 Page 2 Assuming that a site did not have concrete, they requested funding for construction from the City. Any skate/hockey facility would have to have adequate space for a rink and parking and need to be in proximity to restrooms. A regulation rink is normally 200 feet x 85 feet and with adequate space for pedestrian walkways around the rink would need to be a site of at least 105 feet x 200 feet in size (21,000 square feet or ~ acre). In addition, an-outdoor rink would require lighting. The specific Tustin In-Line Skate and Hockey proposal'is a private commercial venture similar to a normal ice skating or rollerskating rink. There-would be hockey and skating clinics, youth and adult leagues and recreational/public skating. Fees would be charged for each of these activities. As an example, the proposed fee for a 10 week youth league program was estimated at $70-75. In addition, league participants would be required to provide their own in-line skates, hockey stick and safety equipment. Safety equipment typically includes a helmet, full-face guard, mouth piece, elbow, knee and shin guards, gloves and'a protective cup for males. The total cost for equipment Would be several hundred dollars. Liability and medical insurance would entail additional costs. While staff has not been in a position to identify available funding for a privately operated facility, the City has been trying to locate a vacant commercial property suitable for a rink. We have found in our research that a number of other skate and hockey facilities such as in Orange and Huntington Beach are not on public facilities. We have provided real estate and building condition information to Tustin In-Line Skate and Hockey and other parties about potentially available privately owned locations in Tustin. Unfortunately, most buildings the company has been interested in are currently warehouse buildings which would require substantial alterations to be utilized as a skating rink (classified as ~ Group A, Division 2.1 occupancy under the Uniform Building Code (UBC). Some of the key items that are required by the State Code include: 1. Providing exits in conformance with Chapter 33 of the UBC. Providing lighting, ventilation and sanitation (restrooms) in conformance with UBC Section 605 and the Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes. . Providing fire and life safety systems as required by the UBC and Fire Code. . Handicap access to parking lots, buildings, participation areas, restrooms and all other areas of a facility. City Council Report Roller Hockey Update June 6, 1994 Page 3 · Providing energy conservation documentation for any new envelope, lighting and mechanical systems. · Seismic compliance and the requirement for a Type 3, one hour building. Since there are not provisions in State law for variances to provisions of the UBC or Fire Codes, the costs associated with conversion could be significant but potentially offset by.revenues from a private venture. Staff has also evaluated possible siting of such a facility at existing parks as ~ potential concession operation to be financed by a concessionaire or private vendor since additional park development funding is~currently not available. Unfortunately, most of the City's existing park facilities are not adequate in size to make retrofit feasible. However, subject to any specific direction provided by the City Council, three options that still may ~be further explored might include construction of an outdoor rink facility by a private concessionaire~ or vendor at the following sites: Tennis courts built by the City in cooperative use with the School District. (The City currently has agreements with the School District for recreational facilities the City constructed at both Columbus-TustinandCurrie even though the City only owns a portion of the tennis courts at Columbus- Tustin), or; Retrofit of a portion of an existing baseball field at Columbus-Tustin once baseball fields are completed at Tustin Sports Park (needs concurrence from the School District), or; Utilization of a portion of open soccer fields at the proposed Tustin Sports Park. It would be strongly suggested that any discussion of these above options involve a process providing opportunities for community input since recreational priorities at each of these facilities has been previously established by the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council after public input. Timing is also critical as it relates to current construction at the Sports Park. In addition to Tustin In-Line Skate and Hockey, several other private groups have approached the City offering to invest capital to start a roller rink or hockey league in Tustin including but not limited to California Street Hockey Association, Sportsmania, Roller Hockey International, National Roller Hockey League, and Power Play Street Hockey have all contacted the City. City Council Report Roller Hockey Update June 6, 1994 Page 4 CONCLUSION The City has been working with several groups to bring roller hockey to Tustin. Youth activities for middle school aged youth have been identified as a priority. While most everyone has been in support of the concept, a suitable location for a rink has not been located. An appropriate location will provide the foundation for a successful program. Adequate parking facilities, access and compatible use issues will have to be addressed. Safety requirements and liability concerns also have to be considered. Two key issues staff would appreciate direction on would be whether such a facility should be on private property or whether, the City Council wishes to_reassess existing or proposed public facilities. If the Council wishes to explore existing or proposed public facilities, staff would like the Council to provide direction as to whether an open, competitive process for a potential private concessionaire or vendor ought to be pursued. ,. Interest in roller hockey continues to grow. Staff will continue to work with roller hockey representatives to gather information and take advantage of any programs which may become available. In the meantime, Community Services staff will refer those interested in participating to existing programs in Irvine,-Garden Grove and Saddleback Valley. Recl-eation Supervisor Recreation Superintendent Christine A 'Shi~gleton Assistant City Manager CAS: GM: kbc\r*o[ terl. ul:x:l