Item - 2011.CD1.8

At its meeting of April 15, 2010 City Council, requested the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) to review future impacts of capital projects on operating budgets and consider strategies, including optional models for service delivery, to mitigate future operating budget impacts.

Construction is near completion for the new Warden Hilltop Community Centre, which is scheduled to open in early March, 2011.  This facility is a 26,000 square-foot multi-purpose recreation centre.  The centre is intended to provide the Clairlea-Birchmount, Summerside and Warden Woods residents with social and recreational programs.  In response to Council's direction to the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to mitigate the impacts of capital projects on the Division's operating budget by considering alternative strategies for service provision, staff conducted a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) to find a viable recreation service provider to operate this facility.  The REOI process was unsuccessful, however, as a suitable operator was not found.

As a result of this process, staff are recommending a hybrid model of operation for the Warden Hilltop Community Centre that would enable City staff to provide a basic level of service by providing supervision of the facility and facilitating permit groups who would provide social and recreational programming to serve the needs of this community.

When the building is ready for occupancy in early March, 2011, the facility will be operated with a minimal staff complement to manage the centre.  Although Parks, Forestry and Recreation operated programs won't be offered, the facility will be open and staffed 13 hours on weekdays, 15 hours Fridays and Saturdays each, and 8 hours on Sundays to support public access through permitting of the various rooms (e.g. gymnasium, aerobics room, multi-purpose rooms, community teaching kitchen, etc.) in accordance with the Division's approved Permit Allocation Policy.  This report also seeks permission to secure other service providers to lease space (e.g. individual multi-purpose meeting rooms, weight room, etc.) within the building at Below Market Rents (BMR) through the issuance of individual REOIs for these spaces.  Staff will report back on the results of these future REOI processes.

Additionally staff are reviewing various operational models for recreation service delivery and are recommending that the Recreation Service Plan study that is currently underway include an analysis of these alternative service delivery models and their feasibility for implementation at some of our existing and future recreation centres.