Council Approves $300,000 For New Temple Gardens Centre Decking

Council had a question and then decided to answer it themselves before authorizing the purchase new decking (temporary ice surface cover flooring) for the Temple Gardens Centre.

The new decking’s cost is $306,932.75 and will replace the existing decking purchased in 2011 with a 20 year life span.

The decking is temporary flooring that is put over the ice surface to allow other events to happen without having to take out and reinstall the ice surface after an event.

Administration brought the issue to Council as it was almost $7,000 more than the $300,000 approved during budget discussions (major reserve budget) and outside the city manager’s signing authority.

Administration recommended a direct award to Covermasters Inc after issuing a Request For Proposal (RFP).

Two submissions were received from the RFP with Covermasters Inc being selected.

The direct award was recommended to maintain timelines and cost certainties

Council was told the main benefits include increased facility use and revenue opportunities, lower operating costs by avoiding ice removal, faster event change over and protection and consistency of the ice surface.

Councillor Jamie Logan asked what happened to the existing floor.

“Do we not have floor there existing now? And what would happen (to it).”

Administration did not have the answer but they said they would check into it.

It should be noted nobody from the Temple Gardens Centre was in attendance at the council meeting to provide the answers.

“I was just wondering why we cannot continue to use that floor,” Councillor Logan asked, adding that ”perhaps it’s dinged up and worn but I kind of like to know that.”

Councillor Dawn Luhning asked “is there something to Councillor Logan’s question. Is there, can it be used for some of its purposes? Is that what you were kind of thinking Councillor Logan or I’m just wondering is there a time sensitivity to this one that we can’t maybe get that information and bring it back?’

“Is there a time issue but maybe that’s some information that maybe we should have?” Councillor Luhning asked.

Council was told that in conversations between Administration and with Miss Shaunna Fritzler General Manager of the Temple Gardens Centre the issue was “time sensitive.”

The whole matter was brought forward to Council when Administration recognized the signing authority issue.

“At no time during our conversation was there any other information related to the old flooring. This was simply something they had acted as an agent of the City,” Council was told.

There were no representatives from the Temple Gardens Centre in attendance at the meeting to answer questions.

Councillor Luhning then changed her tack going on to state that it had been approved in the budget and “that flooring simply can’t be used.”

“I’m OK with that,” she said. “The fact that it’s something we had in the equipment reserve already and that’s why you’re here is because it’s $6,000 over thanks,” Councillor Luhning said.

The original decking was bought in 2011 and has a life span of 20 years or 2031.

“It’s coming on its 20 years they must have felt it needed to be renewed,” director of finance Jaime Ansell told Council.

Councillor Heather Eby - a longtime major proponent of the facility - said she was unaware the existing flooring had a 20 year life expectancy.

“We’re not quite at 20 (years) but in another eight years it wouldn’t be $300,000. And when you look at how many events have been held on that ice deck…its been well used and we only hope we are going to have more events and not less so…it would have been nice to have it in a report as to why it’s being replaced right now…I’m looking forward to it,” Councillor Eby said.

She wondered aloud if maybe the existing deck could be sold off to another community.

Council then heard Administration had located a report stating that several pieces of the existing decking is broken/missing and there is not sufficient decking to cover the curling ice floor.

It needs to be noted the discussion never moved to purchasing replacement decking - if possible - to extent the existent decking until the end of its 20 year life expectancy.

“I’m in favour obviously they’re bringing it forward. There must be a reason,” Councillor Logan said without receiving an answer to his questions.

“Clearly, if they brought this forward, they need this deck so I’ll vote in favor. I just wish it was in the report,” he said.

Councillor Patrick Boyle pointed out since the $300,000 was already approved in the equipment reserve budget it was really just a $6,000 item.

Councillor Boyle said the management of Temple Gardens wouldn’t have made the budget request if it wasn’t necessary.

“Yes it’s been beat up over the years. It’s actually probably a good thing we’re replacing it early with the events going on over top of that,” he said.

Councillor Boyle said the new deck flooring would have a 20 year life span.

Council voted in favour of the purchase.