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4.3. SR 09-16-1996ity of iver ITEM 4.3. MEMORANDUM FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor & City Council Pat Klaers, City Ad~ator September 16, 1996 Ice Arena Update One of the funding components for the ice arena project was a $50,000 contribution from the Rogers Plastics Foundation. It is with great pleasure that I advise the City Council that the city has requested and received this $50,000 contribution. Attached for your information is a letter from me to Mr. Charles Van Heel which expresses the city's appreciation for this contribution. I don't know if anyone from the Rogers Plastics Foundation will be present at this meeting, but it is appropriate to officially recognize this contribution. Ice Arena Task Force Chair Jeff Gongoll will be in attendance at this meeting and may be able to provide the Council with additional information regarding this contribution to the city. The construction of the ice arena project is moving forward on schedule. Completion is anticipated at the end of December. The steel for the roof was slightly delayed but is now on site and the roof is being erected. There has been no major problems of note with this construction project and only a few change orders. One change order relates to an understanding with the school regarding traffic flow around the entrance into and out of the arena parking lot. The construction manager for the project, M.A. Mortenson, has been very active in this project and, in retrospect, I don't know how we could have gotten to this point without their services or a significant increase in the architectural services. From my point of view, M.A. Mortenson is protecting the city and ensuring that a quality product, according to the specifications, is being constructed. The city is currently completing discussions on obtaining an easement for the extension of the sewer and water lines to the north to the utilities that are in the Lowell Street cul-de-sac. This is part of the project which was taken out of the bid that the city indicated it would finance in conjunction with the Municipal Utilities. Attached for your review is an update on the arena project that appeared in the most recent Youth Hockey Association newsletter. The author of this 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 update is the Arena Manager Rich Czech. Within a month or so, it is anticipated that Rich will be a full time city employee. There will be additional part time and seasonal city employees being added that currently work for Rich and youth hockey in the management and operation of the arena. The Youth Hockey Association has volunteered to do a number of projects associated with the new arena once the contractors are off site. These volunteer projects were removed from the contract in order to keep the project within the budget. Another item discussed as this proposal moved forward was the creation of an Advisory Board. We are looking at a draft of the guidelines for a User Advisory Board. The concept at this time is to have the groups that use the arena meet on a frequent basis in order to advise the city on what is going well with the arena, what is not working out, and what needs exist that should be met in the future. The concept is for the users of the arena to advise the city on how to make the arena the best it can be. XXelkriverXsys\shrdocXcouncil\iceup.doc City of 'ver September 9, 1996 Mr. Charles J. Van Heel c/o Rogers Plastic Foundation 20600 County Road 81 Rogers, Minnesota 55374 Dear Mr. Van Heel: I would hke to take this opportuniW to formally thank the Rogers Plastic Foundation for its generous contribution of $50,000 for the new Elk River Ice' ga'ena Project. The Elk River City Council will meet on Monday, Septem.ber 16, 1996, and during this meeting an update on the Ice Arena Project will be made by Ice Arena Task Force Chairman, Jeff Gongoll. This update will include an acknowledgment of this contribution to the project. With this meeting being on cable TV (on a tape delayed basis) and with the Elk River Star News reporters being present, we hope to get some good pubhci.ty about this contribution from the Rogers Plastic Foundation. Thank you very much for your contribution and your support of this community project. Cordially yours, Patrick D. Klaers City Administrator 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 IleEIINlr~llioll CoN! Arc Di#coUlnled AGAI~ ZZ The registration fees have increased this year due to an increase in the per hour rate and the additional practice hours each team will receive this season. The per hour rental rate will be increased from $105 to $112, which is very competitive with the surrounding arenas. The House program will see an increase in hours from 190 to 260 and the travel teams will be increased by 5-8 hours per team. Last season (1995-96) the Board approved a discount of 10% on the registration fees to help keep cost down. The money for these expenses was paid from the Gambling Account which amounted to about $10,000. The Board has approved a 10% discount on registration fees again to help keep cost down. The dollar amount discounted this season is about $20,000 due to the additional hours and increase in rate. ~(;w Arena l~l,(hlle Completion date is December 29, 1996. The ice time for the new rink is being scheduled beginning January 13, 1997 in case there is a delay in startup. The Steel for the roof has been delayed two weeks which should not hurt the schedule to much. There will be a need for volunteers for various projects which we hope to get identified very shortly. The lobby and the public restrooms will be unavailable for a period of time and will reopen as soon as possible. During this time, there will be protable restrooms available outside. Concessions will be available from the temporary concession stand that will be located in the first aid room. Available seating will be limited to the south end of the building until construction is completed below the main bleachers. There will be areas both inside and outside of the Arena that children will be attracted to. These areas can be very dangerous and serious injuries could occur if children are allowed in these areas. We recommend that you do not bring siblings of skaters to the areana during construction in order to avoid any problems. If you are unable to stay with your skater, please drop them off no earlier than a half hour before their scheduled ice time and pick them up promptly after their ice time. There will not be any video machines available to help keep the children occupied while waiting for their ride. Please take the time to discuss these matters with your child(ren) to help ensure a safe environment. Thank you for your cooperation during this time. Rich Czech 17lllldl-lljN(~!· The 1996 - 1997 fundraiser will again be the Calendar Raffle. Each child will be expected to sell three calendars at $25 each. If you have more than one child you will be registering, you will only be expected to sell five calendars. The calendars will be available at registration and will have to be paid for up front before registering your child(ren). From now on, ERYHA wilt be running their concession stand on a volunteer basis. At registration, there will be more information, but each family will be expected to help out in the concession stand for a total of four hours for the hockey season. Hell. 1Viulied We are looking for two applicants to fill the paid positions of Concession Supervisors. These positions will be responsible for the inventory, opening/closing the concession area and supervising the volunteers. If you are interested, please submit your name to Dave Aro or Rhonda Madsen. We will then notify you for an interview. More information will be available at registration.