An outdoor ice rink will be created at Tudhope Park this winter.
Coun. Mason Ainsworth championed the project, which he first brought up in November, and council approved it Monday during a meeting in which it ratified the city’s 2021 budget.
“The reason I got into politics way back in the day was to solve problems,” Ainsworth said. “That’s what we’ve done with this report.”
Staff had initially estimated creating and maintaining a rink at Tudhope Park would cost about $67,000. The revised figure presented Monday was $33,000. That would go toward hiring two five-month contract positions. Those employees would also help look after the city’s eight other outdoor rinks and, when not needed at the rinks, they would be deployed elsewhere.
What wasn’t included in the $33,000 was lighting. Ainsworth suggested there could be sponsorship from the community to help cover that cost.
The motion council passed included an amendment that up to $13,400 be allocated for lighting.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla had concerns about COVID-19 restrictions as they relate to outdoor rinks and asked if staff would need to be on site to ensure numbers aren’t exceeded. Coun. Ted Emond shared that concern.
“If that’s the case, it makes all of our outdoor rinks impractical, let alone adding another one,” he said.
Ray Merkley, the city’s director of community services, said the health unit noted in November the city’s outdoor rinks are defined as “playground” rinks. Because they don’t have other facilities, such as washrooms, there is no requirement for staff to be on site.
The city also doesn’t need to keep records of those who use the rinks, Merkley said, but added, “If we change into a red zone, that may change.”
Gayle Jackson, the city’s clerk and CAO, said signage will be placed at all outdoor rinks to inform people about protocols during the pandemic.
The rink will be 50 feet wide and 90 to 100 feet long.
Despite Ainsworth bringing the project up for a vote at Monday’s meeting, council was still able to pass its budget with no increase to the tax levy in 2021. The total operating levy is $62,438,862.
Council drew $603,734 from the city’s tax rate stabilization reserve to reach zero per cent.
Of the capital levy, $18,000 was unspent when the budget was passed. That money will go to the major capital facilities reserve.