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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-001-10~8I'll~'(Oll REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION Date: FEBRUARY 22, 2010 Report: CSD-001-10 Resolution#: 6Pq -130-IOBy-law#: File#: Subject: COMMUNITY SERVICES - 2009 YEAR END REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS: N/A It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: THAT Report CSD-001-10 be received for information. __..l ;~'"If ~ ~, Submitted by: Jose h . Caruana director, Community Services 1 PC/S M/TL/SC/S M/E M/GA/Iw Reviewed by: ~' ""'~'-"~ ~"'-" "" Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOW MANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Community Services Department is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating municipal recreation, leisure programs and facilities. This report is intended to provide Council with an overview of the activities associated with the Department's Recreation Services and Facilities Divisions during 2009. 2.0 RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION 2.1 Over the course of 2009, the Recreation Services Division offered residents of Clarington registered programs in aquatics and fitness, as well as youth and adult recreation programs. In addition to our structured programming, the Division is also responsible for the Departments drop-in programs, special events, memberships, public swims and recreational skating. 2.2 This Division also plays an integral role in liaising and working with Clarington's many recreation based community organizations. The Community Development portfolio, while still evolving, continues to reach out to new organizations while providing on-going support and information to the many organizations who provide a range of recreation opportunities for the residents of Clarington. 3.0 AQUATIC SECTION 3.1 During the past several months, staff has undergone an extensive review of pool allocation and usage patterns for the three indoor pools. 3.2 The opening of the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex in September 2008 has resulted in a decrease in the number of users at both the Courtice Community Complex and, more significantly, the Clarington Fitness Centre. This decrease has affected both recreational swims and instructional programs. 3.3 Recreational swims at both the Courtice Community Complex and the Clarington Fitness Centre have been adjusted and reduced where necessary to ensure the greatest efficiency of staff costs. The Newcastle & District Recreation Complex has received only minor adjustments, as swims continue to be well attended. 3.4 Municipal instructional programs have been adjusted at both the Courtice Community Complex and the Clarington Fitness Centre. Staff continue to monitor registration patterns on a quarterly basis and make seasonal adjustments as required. 3.5 While the opening of the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex has impacted Clarington's other indoor aquatic facilities, staff believe that recent improvements to City of Oshawa facilities has also impacted growth in Clarington's aquatic programs. 3.6 In 2009, the Municipality experienced its first full year of operation with three indoor pools. The charts below provide a breakdown of how pool time is allocated by facility and activity. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 3 Courtice Ct~mmunity Complex Po©i Usage RentalSpace Scheduled Available 5% Maintenance Pool Time Clarington 3% /~ 0% Swim Club ,-,~~` REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 3.2 Admission Standards for Public Pools PAGE 4 i) June 2009 saw the implementation of new admission standards for public pools across the Durham Region. The new admission standards were developed by the Office of the Chief Coroner, in support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, to assist lifeguards in maintaining adequate surveillance of young bathers while they are inside the pool enclosure. ii) Among the new standard was a decrease in the ratio of guardian to swimmers, under the age of six. While this change impacted- many families with young children, staff implemented an aggressive public education awareness program to ensure parents were made aware of the changes well in advance of the implementation date. iii) While meeting the ratios has been a challenge for some parents, staff have received positive feedback on the efforts to improve children's safety in public facilities, across Ontario. 3.3 Aquatic Statistics i) Over the past three years, aquatic programs have remained stable. Preschool (ages 4 months - 5 years) and Youth (ages 6 -12 years) remain the most popular. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 5 Aquatic Program Participant Statistics ® Preschool iir Swim Kids (Youth) Leadership Lifesaving ~ Adult ii) The Community Services Department offers a wide variety of swims at its indoor facilities. More popular swims include Adult, Lane, AdulULane, Public and Family Swims. iii) Recreational swimming remains a popular healthy activity for all ages. Overall, in 2009, nearly 85,000 people came to swim, representing a 15% increase from 2008. This increase is directly attributable to the opening of the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex. pp ~ ~~ io ~pill~o i~ ~I9aiIIiP' ; IIII~IR°I , ~, 3'~III~~~~~~~~) ~, . ~ ., III I I IIII~IIIIIIIII SIG i~ IIIII' ' ' ~Ii 2 OT 1111111 i ~' i ~ I'II~I~~~~I4a~~tl08' I~~III~ II ,,~. ~ ~~ ,i 200~91I, iiii a.... ~~~ a~u Clarington Fitness Centre 19,466 19,395 15,204 Courtice Community Complex 45,455 37,476 30,396 Newcastle & District Recreation Complex Not applicable 11,890 (4 months) 37,322 Newcastle Lion's Pool 2,575' 1,874 Closed Orono Park Pool 2,171 1,361 1,882 I ~I~~~l'II~,IjI'' ~ ~~! ~69,66'~~II ~' ~' 71,99;611 ,I~I~!Iil'~ ' ' 8 04 2007 2005 2009 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 6 iv) Staff is actively marketing and promoting swims (both public and instructional) in an effort to increase participation levels. In addition, staff continue to make adjustments to the swim schedule, including changing times and types of swims, as well as adjusting the number of staff on deck, without compromising patron safety. 3.4 School Board Swimming Lessons i) Since September 1997, the Community Services Department has offered a customized program for the Boards of Education within Clarington and promoted these programs to be implemented into the school's curriculum. Participation in the Municipality of Clarington School Board program continues to be a popular activity. ii) At the present time, the Municipality reserves 15 one-hour time periods from mid-September to mid-June for school use. Response from parents and teachers continues to be positive. iii) Participating schools vary in both the grade and the number of students participating in the program. Some schools designate swimming for certain grades, usually Grades 3, 4 or 5. Other more enthusiastic schools give -each grade the opportunity to attend every school year. iv) Partnerships such as the School Board Swim Program targets members of the community who may not normally be reached through municipal swimming lessons, due to shift work, irregular schedules or financial limitations not allowing them to attend evening and weekend classes. It also increases children's exposure to water safety education and lifesaving skills. v) 2007 - 2009 statistical comparison shows a continued increase, and support for the school board program. a ~ I,Board Parti t Nurt t , ~ .,~;~ ~ ~~~,,, „ ;;, ~ ~; ,15,}RI l ~~~~l ~~~„I . _. ~: II ,,,Year. i;op~i~~i~pq~ipiii~o~ipilr, # of Participants;: 2007 1, 317 2008 1,338 2009 1,438 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 4.0 FITNESS SECTION 4.1 Grade 5 Action Pass PAGE 7 i) In 2008, Community Services addressed the growing concern over the number of sedentary, obese children in our society by offering the Grade 5 Action Pass. This program received funding support from Durham Lives! ii) The Grade 5 Action Pass was offered to all students during the year they were in grade 5. The pass provides free drop-in access to students for public swims and skates and runs October 1 of the year the student is in grade 5 until August 31 of the following year. The 2008/09 school year was a pilot year for this program and 281 students took advantage of the free one year swim/skate membership. iii) In 2009, we saw 5% of those students continue to participate and re-new their membership. 4.2 Team Training i) Community Services continued to offer Team Training in 2009. Staff at the Courtice Fitness Training Facility provided a conditioning program geared for sports teams, that being primarily youth sports teams. ii) The activities focus on speed, power, strength, balance and agility in a sport specific manner so the athletes can excel in their sport. Abetter conditioned athlete will have fewer chances for injury so it's important to continually modify the program to challenge and improve their performance. As well, the off-ice time is a wonderful opportunity for the team to bond outside of the game or sport. iii) In 2009, staff provided 79 hours of Team Training to 12 different Clarington sporting teams for girls' and boys' hockey as well as soccer. 4.3 Learn to Run The Learn to Run Programs offered individuals another alternative to meeting their fitness goals. In addition to becoming more physically fit, participants also forged lasting relationships and bonds with other runners and the instructors. ii) In 2009, the Learn to Run Clinics continued to see growth with 113 registered participants. iii) The format of the program was changed to include an option for participants to purchase a 10-ticket pass to the Courtice Fitness Training Facility. Through this pass option participants were able to include cross- training into their running routine as well as provide exposure of our fitness facility to potential new members. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 4.4 Group Fitness Programs PAGE 8 i) The Courtice Fitness Training Facility and the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex offer a wide variety of group fitness classes which appeal to a wide variety of clientele. ii) Overall, the registration numbers for Group Fitness classes remained consistent with 2008. There was a slight decrease in registration numbers for Group Fitness classes at the Courtice Fitness Training Facility which could be attributed to the introduction of group fitness classes at the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex. Aerobic Registration Comparison 2007-2009 Courtice Community Complex /Newcastle & District Recreation Complex ~ Courtice Community Complex ~!i Newcastle & District Recreation Complex 4.5 Fitness Memberships i) In 2009, membership sales did decline over 2008. While it is not possible to cite a specific reason, there are a number of factors, which may have contributed to this downward trend: • The current economic situation • Reduced marketing opportunities • Increase of local competition Fitness Membership Statistics 2007 to 2009 "M'ehlbers' ,~Q ,~M {jit~t. +Thip~eMonth Annual 'Cor'b'rag~~i, Staff' St elerrt; 7ptal 2007 125 229 590 378 36 79 1,437 2008 111 234 590 403 56 89 1,483 2009 104 j 214 558 308 44 71 j 1,299 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 9 ii) In 2010, further targeted marketing will continue to promote the Courtice Fitness Training Facility and to increase our membership base. Staff will continue to focus on member retention through member appreciation events and member referral programs, as well as exposing our facility to potential new members. Staff will also be focusing on free marketing venues such as the Internet and email. 4.6 Squash i) In 2009, the Community Services Department was approached by some avid squash members about the possibility of forming a club at the Clarington Fitness Centre. Staff met in consultation with the group and it was determined that a Squash Advisory Committee would be created in order to better focus on the issues surrounding the development of squash in Clarington. ii) The Squash Advisory Committee is comprised of Community Services Department staff and designated squash members at the Clarington Fitness Centre. iii) To encourage squash participation and increase exposure of the sport in the community, the Community Services Department in conjunction with the Squash Advisory Committee implemented the following: Increased exposure in the department's Community Guide Learn to Play programs for youth House Leagues for co-ed and women iv) The programs were offered in Fall 2009 and were received very well. The Youth Learn to Play program had five of eight spots registered, Co-ed House League had 23 of 24 spots registered and the Ladies' House League had eight of ten spots registered. The programs were instructed on a volunteer basis by two members of the Squash Advisory Committee. v) The Squash Advisory Committee will meet quarterly to discuss program initiatives, marketing ideas and program delivery. 5.0 RECREATION SECTION 5.1 Job Opportunity Fair The Community Services Department hosted the third annual Job Opportunity Fair in Clarington. The Job Opportunity Fair was held on Saturday, February 21, 2009, at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Community Services Department built on successes from the previous years and invited the Emergency and Fire Services, Human Resources and Operations Departments to participate. In an attempt to promote the event to students, staff went to four local high REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 10 schools during their lunch hours. The event was well attended throughout the day. Community Services staff had the opportunity to interview close to 300 potential candidates. The objective of the day was to help create a larger pool of better qualified part time candidates; by all accounts this was achieved. The Community Services Department will be hosting our 2010 Job Opportunity Fair on Saturday May 15, 2010, at the Courtice Community Complex. 5.2 Financial Assistance Programs i) The Municipality of Clarington, Community Services Department is committed to increasing access and participation in recreation activities among Clarington residents. ii) The Canadian Tire JumpStart program was created by Canadian Tire Foundations for Families, and works in partnership with the Community Services Department. The program's goal is to provide financially disadvantaged children four to 18 years of age with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreation activities. In 2009, staff was able to assist 18 children and youth in accessing over $1,700 in Jumpstart funding to participate in sport and recreation activities within Clarington. iii) The Municipality of Clarington directly offers two financial assistance programs: a) Financial Assistance Program (FAP) -Individuals or families currently receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support can apply for financial assistance of up to a maximum of 50% of the program /membership registration fee. In 2009, the municipality was able to provide assistance to 22 families, or over 50 individuals. This is up significantly from 2008, where five families totaling 17 individuals participated through this program. b) Membership Access Program (MAP) -The Membership Access Program strives to increase recreation opportunities for individuals with a permanent disability. Clarington residents who meet the age criteria for facility memberships and who have a permanent disability are eligible for the Membership Access Program. In 2009 we had three individuals approved for this program. In 2008 when the program was initiated there were nine approved applicants. Due to the nature of this program, once approved individuals continually renew their membership without re- applying for the program. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 11 5.3 March Break and Summer Camps In the summer of 2009 Community Services employed a total of 26 students as camp supervisors and counsellors. They brought a wide range of knowledge, experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the team. Staff received 35 hours of pre- camp training in areas such as leadership development, team building, recognizing child abuse, customer service, program planning, behaviour management, conflict resolution and administrative responsibilities. All staff were required to be certified in the High 5 Principles of Healthy Child Development, Standard First Aid and CPR "C" as well as supplying acceptable criminal reference checks. iii) Once again Community Services partnered with the YMCA Early Years staff to continue in delivering a comprehensive Mobile Playground program to the community each week of the summer. YMCA Early Years and Community Services each committed one van and two staff. The drop-in style program offers a less structured option to our day camps for participants and caregivers. The two "Funmobiles" each visited a different location every day and delivered games, activities and crafts appropriate to the participants. No pre-registration was required and often parents/caregivers would come to the park and socialize as their children participated. The Mobile Playground rotated through eleven different parks weekly during the summer which included: Tyrone Park, Orono Park, Guildwood Park, Walbridge Park, West Side Park, Roswell Park, Kendal Park, Ina Brown Parkette, Avondale Park, Elliot Park and Haydon Hall. Visits were extremely well received at all locations with over 3,300 people visiting the playground throughout the summer. iv) The summer of 2009 saw the addition of our camper integration program. This required the hiring of a summer camp Integration Supervisor, as well as two Integration Counsellors. Qualifications looked for in these individuals included experience working with children and youth with disabilities/special needs and skill in creating adaptive programming. Residents with children who have special needs were able to pre-register their child with the recreation staff. Wherever necessary and possible, one- REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 12 on-one support was provided to the child in the form of an Integration Counsellor for up to two weeks of camp during the summer months. A total of seven children were registered to receive integration support in our camps this summer. v) Camp programs continue to accommodate as many individuals in the Municipality of Clarington as possible. The Department continues to revise and improve the camp program each year, achieving the underlying goal of providing quality programs at a reasonable fee. 5.4 Summer Job Subsidy Program The Summer Jobs Service is a student job subsidy program created by the Province of Ontario and is facilitated in Durham Region through the John Howard Society. This is the eighth year that the Community Services Department has facilitated the program on behalf of the Municipality. The program provides up to a $2.00 per hour wage subsidy to employers who employ students for the summer. The program also posts jobs which are subsidized by the program in the Summer Jobs Service job bank for student access. The Summer Jobs Service Program offers free training to students in areas such as job search and self-marketing skills. This program is designed to help eligible youth prepare for employment, gain employment experience and stay in school. The Summer Jobs Service program is targeted to students aged 15-24 years (up to 29 for a person with a disability) who are currently attending school and plan to return to school in the fall. It should be noted that eligibility does not guarantee the employer will receive $2.00 per hour per student as the total funds are distributed by formula to the participating employers. ii) The subsidy that the Municipality received was $28,920.00. Departments do not budget for this revenue as the program is not guaranteed from year to year. The funds are recognized in a miscellaneous revenue account specific to each department. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 2009 SummerJobSubsidy -Funding Received by Department Planning Engineering Department Operations .._.___-__-_. 5600 5.5 Birthday Parties PAGE 13 The birthday party program has exploded in popularity with the addition of the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex. In 2009 we hosted 132 birthday parties for children ages 4 - 12 years (Saturdays and Sundays, January to May and September to December). Birthday Parties 132 2006 2007 2008 2009 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 14 5.6 Public Skating In 2009 we had approximately 8,526 participants attend our public skating programs throughout the municipality. FacilitYl~Iuiu~i~.I"yII~JII' ~~ ~ ,~ ~ ~ i ~~.~i 2008 '' ~, 2009 ' South Courtice Arena 5,147 4,390 Garnet B. Rickard Complex 3,529 3,257 Darlington Sports Centre 1,416 879 6.0 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT i) Community Development is an ongoing process working with community organizations and volunteers to assist with their organizational growth and development which will enable them to identify and respond to current and future community recreation and leisure needs and interests. To be successful Community Development requires developing a rapport and credibility within the community through an ongoing relationship. ii) Staff developed a strategy which was geared towards enhancing the relationship with community partners by creating an environment of encouragement, facilitation and learning which would help to ensure that the volunteer experience was fulfilling and productive. iii) The initial step of the process was the development of an inventory of community organizations providing recreation and leisure services and identifying areas in which staff could provide support to these organizations. iv) A community inventory questionnaire was developed and mailed to 58 community organizations, with a cover letter which acknowledged the contributions of our local volunteer community in the delivery of programs and services that contribute so positively to the quality of life in our community. The mailing was followed up with a phone call to each group to setup individual meetings to walk through their survey results and initiate the process of developing a rapport with each of these groups. v) The majority of these meetings have been very positive, while others proved to be challenging. Many groups were hesitant and cautious initially, fearing a loss of their independence. Staff attempted to dispel these fears by presenting a common message to the groups: • Staff was not trying to be intrusive but rather to offer assistance and support as we understand and appreciate the positive contributions they provide the community. Staff want to develop a better understanding of the programs and services being provided within the community. • Staff wanted to identify any issues or concerns groups were having REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 15 in the provision of these programs and services so that strategies could be developed to assist them and to ensure their volunteer experience was more fulfilling and rewarding. In spite of these assurances, some organizations were still reluctant to become involved with the program. Staff will continue efforts to assure all community organizations of our availability and commitment to assist them. vi) Many community organizations have also come forward as a result of the promotion around the community development initiative but have not as yet completed the community inventory questionnaire. Presently we have a data base of 125 organizations and an electronic mailing list of 80 organizations to which we communicate updates on events of common interest. Recently information was emailed regarding volunteer training opportunities provided in house and through the United Way and information on Trillium grants workshops. vii) From the data we have collected to date, staff has been able to identify some common themes: There are many excellent recreation and leisure opportunities available to residents; however the community groups providing them have a difficult time promoting their services to the larger community. There was interest in volunteer training in areas such as volunteer recruitment and retention, fundraising and marketing, board management and web development. Although cautious at first, generally groups appreciate the interest and support. viii) Staff has attempted to address these themes through a series of community development events: February 26, 2009 -Volunteer Retention Workshop Topics included the changing face of volunteerism in Canada, why people volunteer, the role of volunteers within your organization and retention strategies. September 19, 2009 -Sport and Leisure Fair Community groups were offered display space to promote their programs and services and the general public was invited to drop in and learn about the wealth of recreation and leisure opportunities available to them and their families. This event was very successful with 38 community groups participating. November 12, 2009 -Fundraising for Community Groups Workshop This workshop dealt with trends in fundraising, the need for groups to diversify their fundraising strategies and how to develop win/win sponsorship opportunities. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 16 All of the workshops provided ample opportunities for discussion and encouraged networking among the groups, to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise available within the community. 6.2 Clarington Sports Hall of Fame i) The seventh annual Clarington Sports Hall of Fame continued to be a memorable event for the local sports community, thanks to the support of sponsors Ontario Power Generation and St. Marys Cement. There were 250 sports enthusiasts on hand Saturday, October 24 to acknowledge this year's inductees, Wyman Andrus, Adam Colville, Laurie and Lisa Hooper, Robert Snoek and the 1958/1959 Bowmanville Midget Hockey Team and to enjoy the hilarious anecdotes of hockey star Dennis Hull. ii) Sunday, the Hall of Fame alumni enjoyed an opportunity to renew friendships with team mates and share stories of past glories with fellow inductees at the Hall of Fame Alumni reception, courtesy of East Side Mario's, and the Bowmanville Eagles. This was followed by the Eagles Hall of Fame game at which all alumni were acknowledged. 6.3 Community Events The following are examples of events where, under the portfolio of Community Development, staff assist event organizers. i) Winter WonderLearn The sixth annual Winter WonderLearn was hosted February 14 at the Courtice Community Complex and the Community Services Department was once again actively involved. Over 1,600 residents enjoyed the informative displays and events, including hayrides through the neighbourhood. ii) Rib Fest The second Rotary Rib Fest, hosted at the Garnet B. Rickard Fields, June 12 - 14, was an overwhelming success! Over 27,000 patrons enjoyed perfect weather conditions, great entertainment and fabulous food. With one more ribber on site and more vendors involved, there were many more food options for the crowds to contemplate. The funds raised at this event provided the opportunity for the Rotary Clubs to support many community events and initiatives. iii) Courtice Kids Of Steel The 2009 Courtice Kids of Steel Triathlon continued its tradition of excellence. The 2009 event overcame planning obstacles associated with road closures on Courtice Road for bridge construction and Nash Road. There were 190 triathletes aged 3 - 19 years participating with 30 others having to be turned away at the last minute. A total of 62% of the participants were from Durham Region with the remaining travelling from across Southern Ontario and Michigan. The long distance award was won REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 17 by an athlete who travelled from Hungary! iv) Breakfast with Santa Breakfast with Santa was hosted Saturday, December 5 at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in partnership with Ontario Early Years. Young children and their families enjoyed a full pancake breakfast followed by Christmas games and activities. The highlight of the morning was the visit from Santa! This year 595 people enjoyed this event at two sittings (9:00-11:00 a.m. and 12:00-2:00 p.m.) v) Olympic Torch Relay Clarington caught the Olympic spirit December 16 when the Olympic Torch relay came to our community. Residents lined the streets to cheer the torch runners in Orono, Newcastle and Bowmanville, culminating in a celebration at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex which included live music, hot chocolate and the opportunity to meet local Olympic heroes Rob Snoek and Ron Richards. 6.4 Clarington Older Adult Association In July staff finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clarington Older Adults Association which dealt with the delivery of Partnership Programs at various Municipal recreation facilities. This agreement provided the opportunity for older adults to enjoy quality recreation and leisure activities at locations across the municipality while increasing the non-prime time use of these facilities. ii) The Memorandum is in its infancy, however, partnership programs were offered at the Courtice Community Complex and the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex during the fall session. iii) The Memorandum of Understanding acknowledges the benefits of community partnerships in the provision of recreation and leisure activities, as identified in the Community Services Strategic Plan and will serve as a template for future agreements with other community partners. 6.5 Community Grant Program The Community Grant Program is an evolution, involving constant review and modifications to ensure that the program continues to provide Council with a means to support appropriate community initiatives that meet the defined criteria. The program has been successful over the years in providing Council with a vehicle to acknowledge and support the efforts of our local volunteer community and not for profit agencies that provide services, events or projects that benefit the community in general For the past three years staff has hosted a community meeting in December to introduce the upcoming Community Grant Program. The meeting provides the opportunity for staff to update applicants on any changes or revisions to the REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 18 process and also provides an opportunity for applicants to discuss their application and get clarification on the process and criteria. This meeting has been productive in educating the public on the objectives and merits of the Community Grant Program while sending the message that as the community continues to grow there will be increased demands on the program. Applicants are encouraged to review their requests and apply for support only when truly required. Over the last three years, the number of requests and the amount of funds requested has decreased annually. Commui~!?Ifl~~ GI~I~IIi111t'i~Pi Q'gnam 2007 2Q08,~; ~ ~ ~',ilili~lllll° ill oal~i~i~~~il,~ IIIII~III~I' I Number of Applications 50 43 35 Amount Requested $293,170 $135,050 $113,000 Amount Awarded $80,000 $76,800 $53,250 Community Development is an ongoing process, based on the principles of respect, integrity and support. The benefits are a more engaged community and an enhanced quality of life. Staff will continue to develop the relationships and rapport with our community partners which will nurture an environment of encouragement, facilitation and learning. 7.0 FACILITIES DIVISION 7.1 The Facilities Division is responsible for the operations and maintenance of recreation facilities managed by the Community Services Department. This includes permitting of arenas, swimming pools, indoor soccer and multi-purpose rooms. The Division is also responsible for concessions, pro shops and vending operations in our facilities. This overview is intended to provide Council with an update on the activities and highlights of the Facilities Division for 2009. 7.2 Supporting the Facilities Manager, the Division is staffed by four Facilities Supervisors and the Food Services Co-ordinator. The supervisors share the management of our seven indoor facilities and outdoor pool, while the co-ordinator is responsible for concession and vending functions in afl facilities. Along with the 24 full time staff, the Division requires approximately 100 part time staff to help operate the facilities. 8.0 FACILITIES PERMITTING 8.1 Our facilities booking office, located at the South Courtice Arena is responsible for the majority of the facility permits issued by the department on an annual basis. These permits include all rentals for our major sport users in the arena, pool and indoor field facilities, the annual facility rental contracts for all major ice, indoor REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 19 field and pool users. The majority of facility usage is permitted to Clarington based minor sport users. Staff has developed a close working relationship with the minor sport groups and remains in close contact throughout their respective seasons. 8.2 2009 hourly ice and floor rental statistics are as follows: Categ'~}~~5'~iIIII~~fIII~~~ljlli~~~ ,~ IiI~III'I~li~ I ' i~0'~,7 iI~'IIIII~~ ~, ZI 'Q'8ii ~~~~IIIIII ~~ ;, ~~ ~ ii~2009 ,~~9IIpi; Minor Hockey -Boys 5,897 5,841 5,593 Minor Hockey -Girls 1,560 1,816 1,861 Figure Skating 1,417 ' 1,320 . 776 Speed Skating 255 205 171 Adult Hockey 1,560 1,337 1,312 School Boards 109 271 279 Other 485 292 562 Lacrosse/Ball Hockey (Dry Pad) 1,110 1,174 1,198 Total„ 'Il IIIiiI~"~ rlllli~' ;riooii '"'' 1~ 393 iuii Ii~IIiI~~ it iI ;~„~,', 56 ' " 11,757 Although overall ice usage is down in 2009, prime time ice during the regular season remains consistent. Declined use occurred during the spring and summer months. Staff will continue to monitor this and may consider revisions to rental rates as part of the rates and fees review. 8.3 2009 hourly swimming pool rental statistics are as follows: Cade' Dior o ~ ; ~~~ ~ ~ioiilii I° v Y ,I~~~I~~~Iu dIIII,IIi, I ~ ~ ~ ~o~~~llll~~~' ~ 2007' ~ , ~ i,a i iilil) ~~ii Iliii' 30 8 ~ i'~~~~i~ ~~ri' ~~ ~~~~Iia~~ ~,~ ~ 9 i~ITa~ Swim Club 688 664 590 School Boards 312 350 294 Other 100 76 149 Total '~'~IiI„ ii~li~ili 1'~'41~ p ''~Il~illl ~~~~!II1'90 i~IIIIiiI '"i~,iii1',033 8.4 2009 hourly indoor soccer/outdoor lacrosse rental statistics are as follows: ~Categ~q,~ q) i !~~ 2 ~,iii~ ~ ~iili ;QQ , ,2:008 , ~~ iii ; 'I~~' i~ 2009 ~,iiii~ 'iiii Youth Soccer 1,191 1,355 1,302 REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 20 ~AdultSoccer 585 662 477 Other 34 58 166 Youth Lacrosse 151 194 Private & Youth 159 `foul iiil i i ~i ~~ ~i„~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~,Iii iii ~ II ~~iNIiIiII4 .ii. il0ii i~ .~ ~ 6'fi'" .iiiil~Ir ~ ~~~ nI~ ;269 ~ ~ iIII''I'III ids ~ i ii~~ ~~, iio 2''032., i ii i~ ~" " Adult soccer rental statistics includes weekday daytime drop-in soccer hours which have been drastically reduced for 2009. Actual evening and weekend adult rental hours have only decreased slightly. In 2010 drop-in hours will be reported separately. 8.5 In addition to private and community group rentals, the department provides a variety of public programs to residents in our arena facilities. 2009 hourly statistics are as follows: Cate ~~X ~~II'IiII~i np~II~II ,.i~ i In Dili ~ II I. I 'i" 20~7111 '.'' I~ i iI illy, b'0' 8 iiil' ~, ~IIIII " uii~i~Ia~g12009 Iii i ~iiiil III _ IIII I, Shinny Hockey 412 338 337 Shinny 55+ 298 233 242 Youth Shinny 15 , 106 88 Ticket Ice 471 587 497 Skate 55+ 280 264 252 Parent & Tot Skate 609 575 518 Public Skating 272 260 256 Tc#tal ' ~II~IIIpI i II. ~~ ;ii i ~~ 2,357 2,33 '''IIIiI "' ~'IIIIIIII'°2,190''' ~~ ~ ~II~II 9.0 PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM 9.1 The Community Services department continues the administration of this program for all seven of our indoor recreation facilities as well as the Orono Arena, Newcastle Arena and Newcastle Town Hall. The annual program support and certification is provided by Central East Prehospital Care Program and the costs associated with this support are provided in the department's annual operating budget. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 10.0 FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM PAGE 21 10.1 In 2009 the department hired a consultant to complete an accessibility audit for the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. The intent of the report was to identify areas of deficiency in terms of current legislative requirements as well as "best practices". The goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is fully accessible buildings and facilities by 2025. The report would also provide recommended timeframes for completing the necessary corrective measures and estimated costs for the measures. 10.2 In September the consultant submitted a draft Barrier Removal Action Plan which provided direction to staff to submit funding in the 2010 capital budget proposal for some of the high priority corrective measures. The final report was completed in December 2009 and will be used to develop a comprehensive strategy for future capital budgets. 10.3 The 2010 operating budget includes funds to complete a similar audit for the Courtice Community Complex. The results of this report will also be included in future capital budgets. 10.4 In addition to the audit program underway, staff submit plans for major renovations to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for review and comment. Recently staff attended a committee meeting to present the program for the renovation to the Darlington Sports Centre. 11.0 FEDERALIPROVINCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 11.1 fn 2009 staff submitted an application for a Build Canada Fund -Communities Component Intake 2 grant for an energy retrofit project at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Also, an application was submitted to the Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RinC) Program for three projects; an arena floor replacement at Darlington Sports Centre, a dressing room and seating upgrade at the Garnet B. Rickard Complex and an arena roof and refrigeration upgrade at the Newcastle Memorial Arena. 11.2 All four grant submissions were approved and received 33% funding from both the federal and provincial governments. Community services staff has been working on the projects for the Darlington and Rickard facilities with the majority of the work to be completed from April to October of 2010. 12.0 ANNUAL CAPITAL PROJECT PROGRAM 12.1 The Facilities Division is not only responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Municipality's recreation facilities; it also administers the Division's Capital Maintenance Program. Significant in scope, this program ensures our facilities are structurally sound and physical plants are maintained to industry standards. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 22 12.2 Every five years, each facility undergoes a building audit, conducted by consulting engineers. This document provides information related to the structure and physical plant that enables staff to maintain our assets pro-actively, forming the basis for the current year's capital budget and four year forecast, which is approved each year through the budget process. In 2009 a building audit was completed for the South Courtice Arena. 12.3 In 2009 the largest capital equipment project involved the replacement of the pool dehumidification unit at the Courtice Community Complex. This replacement has provided a more comfortable feel on the pool deck for our patrons while also reclaiming the heat and humidity from the pool deck air to assist in heating the pool water. 12.4 The 2009 capital budget also included funds for a major renovation at the Darlington Sports Centre. The project is designed to improve patron accessibility, upgrade life safety systems, replacement of the arena floor and refrigeration plant as well as improving energy efficiency by upgrading electrical and mechanical systems. The project will be tendered in February 2010 with construction to begin in April. The completion is scheduled for October 2010. In addition to funding received through the RinC program this project also received $1.5 million from the Investing in Ontario Program. 13.0 COMMUNITY CARE DURHAM PROJECT 13.1 With Council approval to fund renovations at the Garnet B. Rickard Complex to accommodate the relocation of Community Care Durham's Clarington operation, staff began the process for the design of the work. In the fall of 2009 construction began and at the time of this report the project is on schedule with an estimated completion date of March 12, 2010. 14.0 ENERGY CONSERVATION 14.1 Facilities management staff continues to sit as members of the Energy Management Steering Committee. As the costs of heat, hydro and water in recreation facilities represents a significant portion of our annual operating costs it is important for staff to stay current in this area. 14.2 Late in 2008 an energy audit for the Garnet B. Rickard Complex was commissioned with the final report being submitted in February 2009. The report identified over $1,000,000.00 in energy conservation measures coupled with capital equipment replacement recommendations. This report eventually became the basis for the business plan to support the Build Canada Fund grant application and is now the basis for the scope of work for the energy retrofit project currently in the design phase. REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 23 14.3 An audit was recently completed for the Courtice Community Complex with a report expected in February. Staff will review the findings of this report and will develop a strategy for funding and implementation. 14.4 In response to the "10% in 09" initiative to reduce energy consumption, staff were diligent throughout 2009. The department raised awareness with staff and asked them to assist wherever possible in reducing heat, hydro and water consumption. The Finance department is finalizing data for 2009 and the energy management committee will be reporting to Council on the result of the challenge. 15.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY 15.1 Workplace health and safety continued to be a high priority in 2009. In addition to the monthly workplace inspections completed by the Joint Health and Safety Committee, staff continues to perform monthly supervisory inspections at our recreation facilities. 15.2 In 2009 the semi-annual training program for facilities operations staff continued. In addition to the annual WHMIS training and review of health and safety policies and procedures, the 2008 and 2009 programs included presentations on refrigeration plant operations safety and swimming pool filtration system safety. These programs were lead by industry service contractors and their expertise provided staff with valuable information. 15.3 In September the Ministry of Labour launched a safety blitz as part of their Safe at Work Ontario strategy. This blitz was focused on hazardous chemical operations specifically in the swimming pool and spa industry. During this blitz ministry inspectors visited all three of our swimming pools. During these visits our chemical storage areas were inspected, chemical handling procedures were reviewed, personal protective equipment was checked for and staff were talked to about any training they has received. The inspections went very well and the reports documented the written operating procedures that were in place in the facilities. The success of these inspections supports the importance put on workplace inspections, the development of safe operating procedures and on- going staff training. 16.0 PARTNERSHIPS 16.1 On September 1, 2009, the concession operation at the Bowmanville Indoor. Soccer facility was closed as part of the budget saving measures program. Subsequently, staff received a request from the Darlington Soccer Club expressing an interest in operating the concession at the soccer facility. Following Council approval to proceed, staff took part in negotiations with the club and a lease agreement was signed and recently the concession was re-opened. 16.2 The arena pro shops at the Garnet B. Rickard Complex and the South Courtice Arena were also closed on September 1, 2009. Following the release of an RFP a REPORT NO.: CSD-001-10 PAGE 24 successful lease agreement was made with On The Edge, a private pro shop operator. Both operations were opened in January and early indications are that the service will be well received by our arena patrons. 17.0 SPECIAL EVENTS 17.1 Each year our recreation facilities provide the location for a number of special events hosted by our local minor sport organizations. These events include hockey tournaments and exhibition games, figure skating competitions, speed skating events and swim meets. In many cases our staff works closely with the organizers to ensure that their events are well run and enjoyed by all those who attend. 17.2 Many of these events involve participants and teams from around the region and in many cases from across the province and into the United States. 17.3 In April the Garnet B. Rickard Complex was the location for the Future Building 2009 event. This was an industry-wide construction skills exhibition targeted to students and educators to showcase career opportunities in the construction field. The three day event was attended by more than 6000 people from across the GTA including students and adults in career transition. Participants attended seminars and received hands-on demonstrations in various construction trades. 18.0 COMMENTS 18.1 The Community Services Department is very proud of our accomplishments over the past year. Our state of the art recreation facilities offer a safe and attractive environment for all our residents to enjoy. 18.2 Our youth and adult recreation programming continues to provide Clarington residents with a variety of opportunities that encourage a healthy lifestyle. 18.3 In 2010 the department will continue to identify areas of potential development and growth, ensuring quality recreational opportunities for our growing and diverse population.