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e e tit Memorandum, Outdoor Skating Rink Establishment and Operation Policy Page Three October 3, 2000 One of the things that might not be understood about this particular facility is that it does not serve as a warminghouse, but is mostly a storage facility. One of the primary reasons for its location is to enable the Parks and Recreation employees to disperse and obtain necessary equipment and tools without having to make multiple trips back and forth from the main maintenance facility. That aside, the City did locate a facility within a park without knowing the long-term future for that park. The future of that park, and the services and programs offered, are going to depend to a certain extent on the demographics, but also on trends in parks and recreation services, arid the needs and desires of the community as a whole. The Park Comprehensive Plan will review the needs of the community, and how they are best served, from a park and recreation delivery standpoint. Is the City best served by a multiple number of facilities in close proximity to each other with overlapping functions, or are we better served by having a limited number of facilities located in certain parks, thus avoiding overlap and offering a functional system connected by a series of trails and/or sidewalks. This is an answer that needs to be determined by the Park Comprehensive Plan. By making a decision in advance of that, you have possibly predetermined some of the needs and locations offacilities, equipment arid services. You also will receive a recommendation at the October 10th Council meeting to authorize Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Stormwater Management Plan. A Stormwater Management Plan will tell us the best location for stormwater ponds, or drainage ways to help the City better manage stormwater runoff. One item that was identified in the City's recent drainage report, and that had been discussed is the possibility that, because this is a low-lying area already, it may serve functionally as a stormwater retention area. I don't have any way of knowing whether it's a better choice to have a park and recreation facility, including a warminghouse, baseball field and playground equipment, or a stormwater retention plarI at this location unless I have both documents in hand for comparison. Again, if you make a commitment in advance of this document, you may have unwittingly committed yourself not to do the other at this location. Staff Recommendation At this time, staff recommends that the City Council accept the recommendation of staff to not establish an outdoor skating rink or to operate the warminghouse at Valentine Park, ant to eliminate the pleasure rink at Cummings Park for the 2000/01 season. A second recommendation is to not allow private rentals during general skating hours, with the exception of the previously established policy with local hockey associations. cc: Tom Moore, Public Works Director Michelle Olson, Recreation Program Supervisor Terry Post, City Accountant