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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARC 040312worksession followup MEMORANDUM TO: MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL FROM: TIM ANDERSON, RECREATION DIRECTOR THRU: RANDY READY, ASST. CITY MANAGER JEFF WOODS, MANAGER OF PARKS & RECREATION DATE OF MEMO: APRIL 5T", 2012 RE: FOLLOW UP TO APRIL 3RD WORK SESSION On April 3`d, 2012 City Council met with the Recreation Division staff and the Aspen Recreation Center Citizen Advisory Committee to discuss the possibility of certain future improvements. The improvement topics discussed were: • 2012 Improvements to ARC Locker Rooms, rust mitigation, and direction for garage doors leading to pool exterior areas. • The idea of adding 5,500 square feet of fitness area on top of the ARC. • The addition of outdoor grotto type hot tubs • The use of remaining SPARC funds for improvements to the Lewis Ice Arena • Aspen Ice Garden Improvements Council provided feedback and direction for each of these topics with a request that all components be labeled as: 1) Safety improvement 2) A functional Improvement 3) or a customer comfort improvement 2012 Improvements to ARC: • Locker Rooms: Staff provided a walk through the facility identifying the areas in which improvements were being pursued. Improvements included: drain repair, partition replacement, fixture replacements, counter top repair, locker improvements, and some painting. The repairs we in some cases necessary for the integrity of the building, safety, and others simply for aesthetics. Council direction regarding these improvements was that they would like to see a menu of each improvement and costs associated with that improvement when the contract is presented. • Rust Mitigation: Staff explained to Council that an engineering firm had been hired to assess the extent of damage rust has caused to facility components, any safety issues, life expectancy before replacement is necessary, and immediate repair strategies. The Aquatic area is seeing rust in and around the slide structural components, the stairs leading to the slide including hand rails, and support beams below the pool deck. The engineering study had identified that no significant structural or safety issues existed at this time and with preventative maintenance we will be able to extend the life of these components. Again a menu of each repair and the cost associated with that repair will be identified for Council in the forthcoming contract. • Garage Door Removal: Staff identified that the garage doors installed on the interior side of the pool wall adjacent to the exterior grass areas were highly susceptible to rust, damage, and high maintenance due to the wet conditions in the aquatic area. Staff would prefer to remove the doors, avoid future maintenance, seal up a few of the outer doors, improve weather stripping in the doors and create a more open look to the outdoors. After review by an engineer, the significance of these garage doors to holding the warm air inside and keeping the cold air in the winter out was insignificant. In general Council seemed to be on board with opening up the views from the pool to the outside. Again, a menu of these costs will be included in the contract when it comes to Council. Addition of 5,500 sq. ft. of Fitness Area: This plan has been presented to Council in the past and the ARC Advisory Committee wished to pursue the idea again in 2013. The Advisory Committee is requesting of Council, $75,000 in 2013 to further the drawings of the space to a level of detail which would identify accurate costs to build this space. Once accurate costs were identified then strategies could be developed for pursing the construction of such space. Council felt that this idea needed to be developed and identified in an update of the Recreation Division Business Plan. All improvements should come from a larger plan identifying direction for the Recreation Division and priority of facility improvements. Funding will be pursued by staff in the 2013 budget to update the Recreation Business Plan. Outdoor Grottos/Hot Tubs: In 2009 staff completed the design of Outdoor Pools to be constructed at the ARC which included 2 grotto/hot tubs. When the project was bid out, proposals came back in excess of funding levels, the economic downturn began and the project was placed on hold indefinitely. Since drawings already exist and the pools could easily be bid out again, the ARC Advisory Committee would like to see the gotto/hot tubs constructed. Reasons for this are twofold: 1. There is certain health issues associated with small children being in the 104 degree water and having their body temperatures rise at a rate than may cause harm to them. The Red Cross recognizes this and has recommendations against small children being exposed to such water temperatures, and local physicians have brought this to the attention of staff and the board as well. Many recreation centers these days are constructing a family hot tub; which is kept at a lower temperature, and an adult hot tub which is kept at the usual 104 degrees. 2. Furthermore, staff receives complaints from adults about small children splashing and playing in the hot tub when they are trying to sit and relax following a work out or long day. These 2 conflicts have prompted the Advisory Committee to request funding in 2013 to construct the outdoor grotto/hot tubs. Staff has looked at the possibility of installing a wall in the current hot tub to where one side would be cooler than the other. To do so the plumbing would have to be reworked and the existing hot tub virtually demolished and built new which would cost more money than the addition of the grottos. To simply turn down the temperature of the hot tub would upset many adult patrons and we would risk losing them and revenue streams. Council Direction was to come through the 2013 budget process with options and pricing for the outdoor hot tubs. What might the cost be if we only constructed one hot tub? Has ADA accessibility been thought out and what costs might be associated with that? The idea was thrown out as to purchasing a portable hot tub for outside but that seemed to be squashed quickly, however staff will look into it just for informational sake. SPARC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LEWIS ICE ARENA & CLOSURE AGREEMENT: Closure Agreement: Staff provided the closure agreement as requested by SPARC and recommended that the clause for the Business Plan be removed, but following discussion about the need for a plan which should identify future improvements for Recreation the decision was made to leave the language as submitted. Staff had recommended that a line be added identifying that all improvements will be approved by City Council and that all work will be performed under a City of Aspen contract. Council agreed with the Closure Agreement and staff will bring it forward for formal adoption. Lewis Ice Arena Improvements: Improvements have not been finalized by SPARC at this time. The plan is to design and decorate the walls of the LIA (and possibly later the AIG) to present to the world a facility of quality and interest that creates an exciting and fun place to visit. With this design we intend to honor our donors and the rich history of skating in Aspen while promoting the future, through fun, engaging, and entertaining interior design. Use design professionals to redecorate and repaint LIA to create exciting and entertaining space that: *Entertains *Excites *Sells—raises funds *Promotes programming and Aspen *Informs *Tells the many stories of skating in Aspen Many of these improvements include the use of electronic screens with the suggestion of selling space to pay for costs associated with the displays. Council was ok in general with funds from SPARC being used to improve the ice facilities, but was cautious as to the use of electronic screens and did not wish to see the facilities becoming advertising platforms. Use of the electronic screens to portray Aspen ideals, history, and programming would be ok. A "Community Wall" would be acceptable but "Visual Clutter" should be avoided. ASPEN ICE GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS: Staff discussed several improvements to the Aspen Ice Garden which have place holders in the 2013 budget and requested direction from Council as to their wishes in pursuing these improvements. The elements included in the 2013 Aspen Ice Garden capital are: 1. Board Replacement 2. Renovation of the West End Locker Room, restrooms, and skate shop space(s) 3. Replacement of Mondo flooring 4. Improved air handling to locker rooms #1 & 2 5. Renovation of locker rooms #1 & 2 Board Replacement: Staff identified that the existing boards are over 20 years old and in need of replacement. The boards are worn and have little action left to them. They don't fit tight and are uneven in places causing edges to jut out. Referees responsible for the safety of the players say that these boards are at a point where they are in need of replacement soon to ensure safety of the players. Council seemed in favor of keeping the funding in the 2013 AMP and moving forward with replacement for the safety of the users. Renovation of the West End: Due to changes in the use of the Aspen Ice Garden; primarily the growth of women's hockey but additionally the Fall Face Off and use by Events at the Garden, has prompted a look at how to effectively use the space to the west end of the rink. The locker room provides only I shower for women and no showers for men. The locker room is shared by hockey players and figure skaters. The restrooms are in need of upgrades not only to accommodate the rink uses, but the events that now provide large revenue streams to the facility. Lastly and perhaps foremost there are no handicapped accessible locker rooms at the Garden without shutting down the women's restrooms and allowing handicapped individuals to access locker room #3 from that direction. This obviously leaves the facility without a women's restroom, and even then the shower is not handicap accessible. Improvements to the west end would include: • Provide Handicap accessibility • Additional Showers for women's hockey • Showers for men's hockey • Improved Locker space for hockey • Separate locker rooms for figure skaters • Locker Room space for officials • Improved restroom facilities to serve events Council seemed to be on board with the need for these improvements in general, but requested a breakdown of costs for renovations at the Garden. This information will be forthcoming during the 2013 budget process. Replacement of Mondo Flooring: This flooring is laid around the rink to protect the blade of the skaters and for safety of patrons walking around and accessing the ice sheet. Currently the Ice Garden has old black mondo flooring which doesn't fit snug around the rink allowing for cracks in which the skater's blades slip into thus dulling the blade which is quite important for figure skaters and hockey players. Staff is recommending replacement of this surface to something that fits better and is more aesthetically pleasing like the Lewis Ice Arena has. Council understood the need for the flooring and for it to be void of cracks. They asked that staff come back with options for the replacement of existing mondo flooring. Options will include: Supplementing the exiting flooring and taking it up and putting it down again to fit tighter, a lower grade of improved flooring and a higher grade of improved flooring. Renovation of Locker Rooms #1 & #2: These locker rooms are old and lacking adequate air flow. Staff is seeking funds to gut the locker rooms and renovate them. These locker rooms arguably require improvements to lockers, shower facilities, toilet facilities, lighting and paint. It seems that everyone agrees that improved air handling is something that is a must. Staff will again bring a menu of options through the 2013 budget process for renovations to locker rooms #1 & #2. Improvements to the Aspen Ice Garden don't have to necessarily all be completed in 2013. Due to the fact that the city just invested over $500,000 for a new refrigeration system at the Ice Garden it would seem that we are committed to keeping this facility operating for many years into the future and certain improvements should begin to be identified. Staff would prioritize the improvements at this time as numbered sequentially above. Funding could begin in 2013 for the highest priority components and be stretched out for other improvements to meet funding availability. Staff will provide through the 2013 budget process, options and cost identification for all improvements being requested at the Aspen Recreation Center and the Aspen Ice Garden.