HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-27-96THS coRPORAI
i REPORT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPO~E AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: JULY 2, 1996 ''
Report#: WD-2~-Q~ File#: pn in n2
File # ~ o
Res. #~A -q'oZ~" / ~o
By-Law #
Subject: SOCCER PITCH MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE VARIOUS
SOCCER ASSOCI]j.TIONS AND THEIR L7MBRELLA ORGANIZATION
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report Wn-27-96 be received for information.
-~
i
:'REPORT
1.0 BACKGROUND ',
1.1 Council at its meeting of May 27, 1996, following a review of
Report ADMIN-11-96 regarding Youth Soccer User Fees, passed
Resolution #C-464-96, as follows:
"THAT St'~ff prepare a report outlining the
level of service which is provided to each
soccer prganization within the umbrella
organizatrion of the Darlington Youth Soccer:
League nd .what functions the .volunteers.
perform ~or the various organizations."
1.2 The Darlington Youth Soccer League is an umbrella group which
has pulled the various soccer interest groups representing
various urban', areas, hamlets and groups catering to a more
competitive level of play, into a cohesive organization to
focus and pridritize the needs of soccer. In staff's opinion
the Darlington Youth Soccer League has been successful by
TMs~E.a ~~~o,.~a ~ ~ ~ 8
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REPORT NO.: WD-27*96 PAGE 2
appointing one spokesperson to convey the League's wishes and
needs.
2.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT
2.1 The forming of the Darlington Youth Soccer League required the
cooperation of the various groups in giving up some of their
autonomy. In order to achieve this, the Darlington Youth
Soccer League. and the Municipality needed to recognize the
historical differences attributable to each group.. In
addition, the ,individual groups had a variety of participants
of assorted age groups using a varied quality and quantity of
fields.
2.2 The Hamlets of Tyrone and Solina have vigorously maintained
their independence by maintaining their own services. Solina
and Tyrone receive the least assistance from the Municipality.
Both have successful Athletic Associations and, by various
means, they have been able to provide for the physical needs
of the park. The Municipality supplements the two (2) hamlets
by contributing $2,000 to Tyrone and $1,800 to Solina for
grass cutting costs annually.
The Orono Athletic Association uses soccer pitches located on
school property. The Municipality mows the grass under
contract, provides a portable washroom at the site, and
provides assistance as requested. Instead of burning lines on
the field, the volunteers with this association prefer to
apply a field'stripe line. Upon request, the Municipality,
from time to time, supplements them with a few bags of the
field marker.
X009
REPORT NO.: WD-27-96 PAGE 3
Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle, and the remaining hamlets
receive similar services with one or two exceptions. The
Municipality performs the following services for this group:
• under contract, mows the field on an eight (8) day cycle;
• sprays and fertilizes approximately fifty (50) acres of
sports fields per annum;
• provides portable washrooms at four (4) locations for the
exclusive use of the soccer league or the combined use
with the baseball/softball league;
• twice a year burns lines into the grass for the soccer
pitches which the Municipality utilizes; and
• in addition to players' benches, which have been added
increasingly in recent years, provides picnic tables and
trash receptacles at various locations.
Functions performed by these volunteers, which are generally
limited to the day-to-day operations of the various leagues,
are as follows:
• hold registrations and collect fees
• organize team, game, field and referee schedules
• purchase and distribute uniforms, first aid kits and
equipment
2.3 The forty (40) soccer pitches which the Municipality utilizes
are of varying sizes, suitable for different age groups and
require different levels of service.
Generally, the pitches located on school yards are small,
undersized, and heavily utilized. These fields are suitable
for the youngest players and require the least amount of
resources to maintain.
1010
REPORT NO.: WD-27-96
PAGE 4
The main pitches at the Darlington Hydro Fields receive the
highest level of competitive play and require the highest
level of maintenance. In past years, it has been necessary to
fertilize, aerate, top dress, and irrigate in order to keep
the grass in active growth, thereby enabling it to recover
from heavy wear and tear. In addition, the goal mouths are
re-sodded.
2.4 The Darlington Youth Soccer League has been kept informed of
the progress regarding the lighting for the two (2) main
pitches at the Darlington Hydro Fields. In order to better
utilize the increased potential for play at the facility, the
league had requested an increased service level over and above
the level provided in 1995. In response, the league was
advised of the Municipality's existing financial constraints.
As a result, discussions occurred as to whether additional
cuttings could be made by the Municipality's contractor at the
League's expense.
In addition, discussion progressed with regard to the
contractor providing additional applications of fertilizer to
the field. Staff believes the two main fields were fertilized
but are not aware of any additional cuttings being done.
Since the refusal of the Darlington Youth Soccer League to pay
user fees, further progress on the aforementioned and other
issues has been curtailed.
3.0 STJMbIARY
3.1 Public Works and Community Services Departments will continue
to work with the various permitted sports groups to provide
good service on safe fields suitable for their needs. Prior
to the preparation of the 1997 Budget, Public Works will be
reviewing maintenance service levels (ie. frequency of
1011
REPORT NO.: 9PD-27-96
PAGE 5
grasscutting) and Community Services/Public Works will be
reviewing agreements with the School Boards pertaining to
maintenance and permitting of soccer fields and baseball
diamonds. This agreement was recently reviewed in
approximately 1988.
Respectfully submitted,
~~~ ~/~/
Stephen A. Vokes, P.Eng.
Director of Public Works
os h ruana
' ector of Community Services
JDC*wc
June 26, 1996
Reviewed by,
W. H. Stockwell
Chief Administrative Officer