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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-02 PACKET 09.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 2/2111 4k PREPARED BY Public Works Les Burshten ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST: Respond to request by City Council for update on the West Rink Bleacher Heat at the Cottage Grove Ice Arena. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive response to inquiry regarding the West Rink Bleacher Heat at the Cottage Grove Ice Arena. BUDGET IMPLICATION $ BUDGETED AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS E ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ® MEMO /LETTER: Zac Dockter, January 21, 2011 ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS 7 City Administrator Da e COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: []APPROVED ❑ DENIED MOTHER City of Cotta Grove Minnesota To: Les Burshten, Public Works Director From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Manager Date: 1/21/11 Subject: West Rink Bleacher Heat During the 2008 Ice Arena expansion and renovation, bleacher heat was removed from the project scope to reduce costs. After a full playing season, staff and the city council considered and installed infrared bleacher heat to the center two sections of the west rink. This has provided heat to one third of the entire bleacher seating area for the past two seasons. This level of heating tends to satisfy the spectators for a majority of events held on the west rink considering average crowd sizes for most youth events are at or below 100 spectators. The heating system itself functions very well and has been a very positive asset to our facility. The spectators expressed their gratitude regarding the cities investment into the comfort of its patrons. After all, the spectators are usually the patrons paying the ice bills. However, the need to expand the system throughout the remainder of the facility still exists. During large events such as tournaments and high school game nights, the crowds are too large for all the spectators to fit into the heated area. Also, with the heaters providing heat to such a small area, the overall temperature of the ice rink area remains very cold. Having a complete system would provide a more balanced level of comfort throughout the spectator areas as opposed to the pocket of warmth we currently provide. We do still receive many complaints about the west rink being "too cold ". Those complaints usually stem from these large events where spectators cannot all fit into the heated areas. When the infrared heating system was installed in 2009, consideration was given to future expansion of the system. To that end, gas and power were run to the future burner locations, control boxes were installed and exhaust holes were bored and capped along the arena wall. This will provide for a relatively easy expansion of the heating system when the time comes to complete the project. The current project estimate is $20,000 of which is fully budgeted for the 2012 proposed budget. Although this expenditure can certainly wait until 2012, it would be most desirable to complete this work during the off - season of 2011 (between May and August). This would allow the work to be completed in a manner that does not disrupt ice rental events and will be installed for the entire 2011 -2012 season.