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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-11-027 - Timelines for Spectator Arena ReportREPORT TO:Community & Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: March 21, 2011 SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Willmer, Deputy CAO, Community Services, 2325 PREPARED BY: Keith Baulk, Director of Enterprise, 2393 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: February 28, 2011 REPORT NO.: CSD-11-027 SUBJECT: TIMELINES FOR SPECTATOR ARENA REPORT RECOMMENDATION: That the revised timeline as outlined in Report CSD-11-027 be acknowledged. BACKGROUND: In late June 2010, Council approved a multi-phase work plan to provide an in-depth review of a proposal by the Kitchener Rangers to expand the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (CSD-10-049). The first phase of the work plan included undertaking a goals and needs study, funding options analysis, current facilities audit, a contractor peer review of the Rangers proposal and some level of public engagement around the outcomes of these studies. A staff team comprised of representatives from Facilities Management, Asset Management, Legal, Finance, Economic Development, Planning, Communications, and Community Services have been meeting on a regular basis to implement the first phase of the work plan. As indicated in the plan, the staff team was responsible for engaging a number of consultants to undertake the studies. The Kitchener Ranger Hockey Club agreed to provide the funding for all the consultants. The goal was to bring the results of the studies and public engagement forward in the spring of 2011. REPORT: The staff team established an action plan to achieve the original deadline. However, other significant corporate projects and activities have impacted members of the team resulting in a need to delay the original timeline target. Two examples of these projects and activities are the construction and transition to the Consolidated Maintenance Facility and significant staff involvement over the past few months with the 2011 budget roll-out. In addition, the background reports took longer than expected and in some cases were more extensive to ensure quality results. ïï ó ï Currently all of the various studies identified above are well underway, but it will require a few more months to collate findings and complete the follow-up work. Staff expect to be able to deliver an initial report and recommendation(s) to Council no later than this summer. Pending Council’s future direction and complexity of follow up work required, further phases could take until fall/winter of 2011. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality of Life ensures that the City invests in leisure facilities while Development ensures growth is carefully planned. Financial Management ensures long term financial stability and accountability. In order to achieve these three components of Kitchener’s Strategic Plan, extensive background information and consultants reports are required. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: n/a COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: This report has been shared with the Kitchener Rangers who are supportive of the deferral. CONCLUSION: Staff have been committed to this project and are making progress moving the work plan forward. However with other work priorities an extension to the deadline is required to complete the work to a quality technical and professional standard. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Deputy CAO Community Services Department ïï ó î