Monday, January 20, 2014

Arena & Indoor Recreational Facilities

As you know, the provision of recreational and cultural services in Pelham has been an issue for decades.

Last year, I wrote about a creative problem solving session in December 2012 where Council identified a way forward:
• stay focused on deciding what to do with Town facilities and the Town-owned-lands in East Fonthill (32 acres at Regional Road 20 and Rice Road);
• define the recreational and cultural services the Town needs now and for the future;
• develop the Town-owned-lands in East Fonthill in the best manner and in conjunction with other property-owner groups;

As part of achieving this, staff prepared an Executive Summary of all the recreational and cultural reports that various Councils received over the years. Staff informed Council that, “A review of all previous studies was undertaken which confirmed that no significant or meaningful financial work was completed, [thus] requiring additional financial analysis for both an arena and community centre.”

The Town hired LeisurePlan International last summer to develop a market analysis and business case study. So that they could develop a statistically significant report, LeisurePlan surveyed +1,000 residents about their recreation and culture habits and preferences.

After detailed analysis, LeisurePlan presented the Phase One results to Council on January 13 and 20.

Please click here for a copy of LeisurePlan's presentation to Council.
Please click here for a link to the video recording of LeisurePlan's presentation during our January 13, 2014 meeting (from ~0:10:00 to 01:23:00).

Arena Facilities:
The report suggests that there is not enough demand in the short / medium term for a twin-pad, but suggests "there may be sufficient demand...for a second ice pad in the time period just beyond 2023/24."

LeisurePlan recommends that the Town:
• replace the existing single-pad with a new arena facility within the next five years;
• design a new twin-pad facility and phase the construction – build one ice pad first (contingent on capital financing) and construct the second pad after 2023/24 (should the sustaining demand develop);

Please click here for a copy of LeisurePlan's Arena Facility Strategy Provision report.

Multi-Purpose Recreational Facilities:
Upon surveying all user groups and associations (14 in total), all service providers in Pelham (46 in total), and 1,091 residents, LeisurePlan recommends that the Town:
• provide a multi-purpose facility to accommodate demand for participation in fitness activities, walking/running on an indoor track, and gymnasium sports;
• provide multi-purpose program space;
• not provide an indoor pool facility due to lack of demand and to associated costs;

Please click here for a copy of LeisurePlan's Indoor Multi-Purpose Facility Provision report.

Over the next 5-6 weeks, LeisurePlan will complete Phase Two – examine the business case and various options associated with facility construction and operation.

When both Phases are complete, Council and I look forward to working together with you and your neighbours to review the options and finally move ahead on the future recreational facilities and needs for the Town.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Multi-Purpose Community Centre Provision Strategy

In addition to the Arena report, LeisurePlan International Inc. also presented to Council on Monday their final report on the Multi -Purpose Community Centre Provision Strategy.

Phase One of this strategy determined the magnitude and characteristics of the existing and potential future demand among community based recreation service providers and residents for indoor aquatic, fitness and gymnasium related programs, activities and facilities in the Town.

Upon surveying all user groups and associations (14 in total), all service providers in Pelham (46 in total), and 1,091 residents, the recommendations are to:
- provide a multi-purpose facility to accommodate demand for participation in fitness activities, walking/running on an indoor track, and gymnasium sports;
- provide multi-purpose program space;
- not provide an indoor pool facility due to lack of demand and to associated costs;

Please find a copy of the LeisurePlan presentation by clicking here.

For a complete copy of the LeisurePlan Multi -Purpose Community Centre Provision Strategy (which will be presented to Town Council on Monday, January 20) please click here.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Arena Facility Provisions Strategy -- Final Report

For your information, please find here a copy of the Phase 1 of the Recreation Facilities Reports -- the final report on the Pelham Arena.

This report is based on extensive analysis of current Arena usage, current demand that is accommodated elsewhere, expressed additional demand (like adding a second practice for all teams), and demand that may be required for the future as Pelham grows.

The report suggests that there is currently not enough demand in the short / medium term for twin pad, but suggests "there may be sufficient demand...for a second ice pad in the time period just beyond 2023/24."

The report recommends that the Town:
- plan for the replacement of the existing single ice pad with a new twin pad facility within the next five years;
- design a new twin ice pad and allow for a phased build -- building one ice pad during the next five years (contingent on capital financing), and construct the second pad after 2023/24 should the sustaining demand develop.

The report's author from LeisurePlan International will presented tonight to Pelham Town Council on Monday, January 13 at 6:30 PM at Pelham Town Hall.
This arena report is phase-one of reports on recreational facilities; LeisurePlan will report shortly on the demands for other facilities (community centre facilities) with a business case analysis of financial sustainability.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Review Designs for Downtown Fenwick Revitalization

Just before the Christmas break, residents and business owners were invited to see the latest plans to revitalize Downtown Fenwick.

You will recall that while Council budgeted funds to revitalize Downtown Fenwick in 2013, staff ran into delays with design, with added work (properly attaching the storm sewer to Church Street) and with coordinating with the utility’s schedules. Last September, because of these challenges, Council decided to postpone the revitalization until 2014.

Council made this decision after receiving a staff report outlining the project’s complexities. In essence, to properly deal with the storm sewers and to tie them correctly into adjoining streets, construction crews will have to dig fairly deep. Second, the requirement to bury the hydro lines and other overhead utilities meant that the Town must work closely with Ontario Hydro; Hydro had said they could not undertake that work until 2014.

In early December, Council approved $4.0 million budget to reconstruct the roads, bury the hydro lines, and make the Downtown more pedestrian friendly.

The consulting engineers met with the public on December 19 to review the nearly-final designs. While the event was well attended for the time of year (just before the Holiday) I spoke to a few people that would have liked to attend the open house and review the plans.

Well, now the Town has posted the plans on our new website at www.pelham.ca/current-construction-projects. What do you think about the streetscaping elements? What are your thoughts about the proposed locations of the hydro transformer boxes? Do the road sections make sense?

While there is still another, final stage of design work to be completed, now is the time to suggest any last improvements.

The tenders for the general contractor will go out in February; I hope that the first stages of construction can begin in March or April.

Council has directed staff to ensure as little negative impact on Downtown businesses and on traffic as possible. And, having learned from other major projects in recent years, Council is also looking for a clear process to keep businesses and the public informed about construction progress and a clearly defined person in charge to approach with any concerns.

We look forward to your feedback on the latest designs. With your help, the Town can ensure that the revitalization of Downtown Fenwick can be the best possible for now and for many years to come.