Through hard work by Representative Cathy Munoz and friends in the Legislature, Juneau is poised to receive a new skating rink in the Mendenhall Valley. Now, the buzz around town is whether our community needs and can afford another rink.
Juneau, with 30,000+ residents, should move forward with this opportunity. The new Valley rink will be heavily used and will not be built with CBJ sales or property taxes. Managed right, the new rink will not require a local government subsidy to operate.
Last legislative session, Cathy Munoz was instrumental in obtaining an appropriation to start building the new rink at Dimond Park. The new rink, expected to cost $6.5 million, would be built in a manner similar to the highly successful Field House located at Dimond Park by the Juneau Community Foundation.
In 2007 the Juneau Community Foundation teamed up with the City and Borough of Juneau and numerous community members and businesses such as Wells Fargo who donated their time and services, to construct the Dimond Park Field House. The facility’s operating expenses of approximately $175,000 per year are paid for by a combination of hourly fees, business sponsorships, and individual donations. As a result of volunteer efforts, the Field House has been able to stay within budget which enables the facility to offer rates much lower that that of other sport complexes. The new Valley rink can follow this tried-and-true path to success.
The CBJ would provide property for the rink at Dimond Park but construction and operations would not require CBJ funding. We’ve heard gripes around town that Juneau doesn’t need another rink -- complaints that are similar to the carping when the first rink was built in Douglas back in 2003.
A rink in the Valley will well serve school age populations, increase figure skating and recreational skating, give roller sports an additional outlet and facilitate an ice hockey program at Thunder Mountain High School (TMHS). A rink in the Valley will increase recreational opportunities for many residents of our community and significantly improve convenient scheduling of ice and roller sports.
There are residents who claim funds for a rink should be spent on other projects. The argument here is that there is a better use for state dollars. Of course, depending on who you ask, priorities for public spending vary, but in the end, the Legislature has offered a splendid gift to our community. The issue now is will we accept the gift?
The addition of a new rink in the Valley will not end the successful operations at the Treadwell Rink in Douglas. With care in scheduling, two rinks could well serve our entire community in a better and cost-efficient manner. At a recent public hearing on July 17, a wide variety of actual and potential user groups spoke enthusiastically about how a Valley rink could enhance recreational and athletic activities.
Conspicuously absent at the July 17 meeting where the new Valley rink was discussed were representatives from the Juneau School District (JSD). JSD’s failure to attend and provide input was unfortunate. When asked to provide a location for the rink in Dimond Park, CBJ staff mentioned multiple requests for space at Dimond Park, foremost among them being space for TMHS ball fields. At this point, the JSD and the CBJ appear to lack focus and do not have specifics related to the proposed TMHS ball fields. Top-ranking officials from the CBJ and JSD seemed flummoxed by where to put a new rink and unable decide on where to build a fantastic new recreation and athletic facility for our community.
Juneau is on the threshold of obtaining a second rink from the Legislature. A new rink will enhance current operations at the existing Treadwell Arena. A new rink will allow Juneau to host the Arctic Winter Games and increase hockey tournament play by teams from out-of-town. A new rink will facilitate an increase in figure skating, recreational skating and ice hockey. With a little bit of coordination between the CBJ and the Juneau School District, the Juneau Community Foundation can move forward with this opportunity, just like they did with the Field House in the Valley -- a project that has been a great benefit to all who call this place home.
• Joe Geldhof is an aging ice hockey player of marginal talent, a retired ice hockey official and helped the Douglas Fourth of July Committee’s efforts to build the Treadwell Arena. Tom Rutecki is a long-time coach and sports booster in Juneau; he was instrumental in establishing the Juneau-Douglas ice hockey program.
Comments (32)
Add commentfield house comparison
It's an interesting and timely comparison....."The new rink, expected to cost $6.5 million, would be built in a manner similar to the highly successful Field House located at Dimond Park by the Juneau Community Foundation."
I paid all winter to walk on the indoor track. Just yesterday, I looked at the field house schedule so I could walk on the track because of the weather. Closed! I've also had the experience of showing up at the field house during advertised open hours and have it closed.
From a consumer perspective, I have not experienced the Dimond Park Field House to be a highly successful addition.
If a new ice rink can be built and supported from non-tax $$, including the land donation at no cost to residents, good luck.
A good presentation
But I think your efforts are better served without the swipe at JSD or city government----Especially since the city may well in fact end up picking up some, or more than some, of this tab: Your assurances that this facility can be built and operated along the lines of the field house come across as a little bland, (a "tried-and-true path to success.").
Good luck anyhow. With TMHS hockey coming on line, a second sheet will certainly be used.
Not recieve a subsidy?
Yeah, right. How about Joe Geldhof and Tom Rutecki sign a financial liability agreement that binds them to cover operating expenses for either facility
when they discover that two ice rinks in this town really aren't viable. If they are on the hook for future subsidies....I say go ahead and build it!
If you build it, they will come.
Joe is right; this is a rare and splendid gift/opportunity from the Legislature. It's a quality of life booster not only for the users of the proposed facility, but its presence would also paint a more attractive picture regionally for any would be settlers.
And frankly, it's high time for the Valley to provide competition with historic and majestic Douglas Island (currently the local recreational hotspot with the ski slopes, Sandy Beach, the current ice arena, 4th of July festivities, and let's not forget, the annual Halloween Ghost Walk).
Build it.
Mike
Red Herring......
I'm not necessarily against a second sheet of ice in Juneau.
However, this letter and the efforts so far to get a separate building in the Valley seem less than completely honest.
The mention of the fieldhouse paying it's bills as an indicator that a new ice rink would operate in the black seems to be a red herring. None of the proponents of the new rink have mentioned the funding status of the existing rink - how much revenue does it generate? This indicates to me that the existing rink is significantly dependent on city funds for operation.
It's easy to SAY "the rink won't require a government subsidy to operate." - - PROVE IT. Show us the costs for the current ice rink, and how much is covered by fees and ice rental. This should be EASY to do. If the current rink covers it's expenses, or at least gets close (70% or more) - - that makes a new rink seem more viable. If not - then it makes NO sense to build a new building instead of expanding the current one - which is already planned for, and reduces long-term overhead by more than 50% when you include building maintenance. - - all so folks from the valley don't have to drive 6-8 whole miles to play hockey?
another
sure
while we are at it....
How about the city SELL some land so we can build some houses! Im all for my neighbors getting an ice rink, i would also like to have more neighbors if ya know what i mean!
Red Herring? WTH?
"Nice grammer and spelling.-
"Then meintion of the fieldhouse paying it's bills is clearly a red herring. Since none of the proponents have given the numbers from the current rink.
What does Treadwell have to do with Dimond Park Field House? One of them is government run the other run by a non-government entity. The DPF manager will show anyone their books. Go see them.
No matter what, nothing will assuage the dystopians.
It is
amusing to see Rutecki bringing in the school district and Thunder Mountain High School as a reason to support a new rink when he was quite opposed to TMHS ever getting an independent activities program. Looking through the Empire archives, his stated opposition then was over funding issues--does this new rink proposal have a good funding mechanism going forward, or does it have his support because it's more ice?
Transparency Needed
The Treadwell Ice Arena is a success in that it has a full schedule. That doesn't mean Juneau needs a second sheet. It simply means that Treadwell is successful.
I agree with Swimmer...what is the financial argument - transparency please.
all the good intentions will still cost local taxpayer dollars
While the thought of a second sheet of ice would be a nice luxury, the reality is that in order to properly maintain and provide for long term maintenance will fall on the shoulders of the CBJ. Look at the ice facilities in FBKs or ANC. They are privately run, look pretty run down and charge upwards of $300 / hour for normal ice times just to keep the doors open.
Using the fieldhouse as an example of a great low cost operational facility is also misleading. There is no long term maintenance being completed on the facility, nor a major maintenance budget / fund set up for major routine repairs/ replacments needed - while the field house has minor infrastructure compared to a new ice rink, you need to be aware that the "utopia" model being used to railroad this "free money" into the tax payers pockets will be costly for the tax payers in the long run.
If the second rink is to actually happen, the proponents should push the state (or outside entity) to provide the Community foundation with a $5-$10 million endowment so the project can actually be a true "gift" to the taxpayers to prevent another subsidy being needed from the CBJ.
Build it and they will come
I know I will. Building a rink in the largest population and athletic center of the community just makes sense. Sorry, Douglas, while I love your facility, you're a long drive for me and my kids.
Great Idea
An ice rink in the valley will absolutely get used - the Douglas ice rink is always jam packed with activities. Right now the adult hockey leagues start games as late as 11p! Add the activities that TMHS could use it for and it's a win.
akjim - seriously?
7 miles is a long drive?
It's pretty far to the ferry terminal, perhaps we should move that next to Duck Creek for you. The Airport is really so far from the valley, we could put that right in front of the glacier for your convienence.
I'm sorry - I just think that particular argument is the most silly, self-serving thing I've ever heard. I drove/bussed from Lena for school and work for years. So what? We chose to live there, so you make the drive. No big deal. No where else is so much so close as it is here - when I lived in Washington, it was 35 miles to the airport. Farther to go skiing. The nearest public pool or beach was over 10 miles away. My girlfreind in Colorado drives her kid 12 miles to the nearest Gymnastics gym, they all drive over 30 miles each way to go skiing.
it's 7 or 8 miles, for crying out loud.
Hug -em
Corrected, just for you - that was an awkward sentence.
Nimby said it pretty well. I agree - Fieldhouse and ice rink are apples and oranges - comparing the costs of one to the other is silly and misleading. Show us the acutal numbers from the current ice rink.
Look, as I said, I'm not against a second sheet of ice. I just think we need all the financial information on how the first one is going (full doesn't necessarily mean solvent) before we build another one - and why double the maintenance/staffing cost if we don't have to?
You could give me a Ferrari - but if I can't pay for the gas, insurance and maintenance, then how smart is it for me to accept it? Wouldn't a Subaru I could pay for in the long run be smarter?
Swimmer
Maybe I'm not actually in the Valley? Perhaps I'm a bit further up the road? Seriously, swimmer, your rants are getting old. Grow up.
It's like Home Makeover
Those folks were given a house but over 30% have sold their homes within five years due to their inability to maintain it.
Let's make sure we have the next 20 years in mind before we say yes. Remember when a second high school seemed like a good idea?
akjim -
So what? You chose to live where you do, correct?
Why should everything else move to make things more convienent for you, at extra cost to everyone in the city?
I've just lived and commuted in enough different places to know a 7-10 mile commute is nothing. I lived in Tacoma and drove to Seattle for work for a year. I lived out the road in Juneau for years while going to school and working downtown. Yes, I had to plan a little more before I went somewhere, but I lived out there for a reason, but I took responsibility for the fact that things I wanted to do might be farther away, and didn't complain about it, or expect the city to build things closer at extra expense to the entire community for my convienence.
Swimmer
Seriously, you're upset because some folks want something a bit closer? What a little whiner you are. I've commuted at times hundreds of mile to get to work, so please don't lecture me about distances. I've merely supported an ice rink in a location more convenient to many, and here you are acting all high and mighty and holier than thou. Get over yourself, you're simply not that important.
From page 7 of the FY13/14
From page 7 of the FY13/14 Budget:
Cost Recovery Goal for Treadwell Arena*
FY12 - 56% FY 13 - 58% FY 14 - 58%
*Cost recovery includes the value of Assembly approved “no-charge” facility use by Juneau School District and youth
sports teams
The entire FY13/14 proposed Parks and Recreation budget:
http://www.juneau.org/finance/documents/Parks_and_Recreation_002.pdf
Anyone who was against the douglas ice rink should not be
discussing the possibility of the mendenhall valley location. If they had it their way we still wouldn't have one ice rink... obviously they don't use an ice rink and for some reason feel others shouldn't have the opportunity. The douglas rink is packed at all hours of the day. Adult league games run into the night. The douglas rink is at full capacity with many Juneauites feeling they don't get as much usage as they would like. Many who live in the valley can't use the rink because the scheduling and long commute. Why is this an issue?
commute
With fuel topping $4.30 I'd say the commute is a very big deal. I don't care what commuters in Washington do. I care about the commute right here where it effects us locally where it is already expensive enough to live.
I'm not sure about needing another ice rink. If we build one, it would make sense to build it in the Valley.
Enterprise Board for the Ice Rink(s)
An enterprise board should be set up in which the fees necessarily have to cover the costs of operation, just as we have with the harbor board. That way, everything would be above board. We can look at how many hours a day the place is intended for use, what the overhead is to run the place, and then come up with an hourly rental and then go to users and see if that fee is reasonable. If not, then back to the drawing board until it works, or the city or school district commit to coming up with the balance. But let's decide this all before we build it. Didn't the proposed cost of the ice rink double the day after we voted it in and then further increase after that??? See http://juneauempire.com/stories/031902/loc_icerink.shtml and
I used to be against subsidized recreation until I took tickets to a ski movie at Centenial Hall attended by Eaglecrest users. Only 1 person that attended was overweight - that changed my mind right there. I would guess most who use the rink are in better shape the the overweight dude and I am, too. And I don't think I've ever seen an ice rink fail.
Only JDHS
JDIA, JSC< and any other youth organizatios pay the same rate as any other users of Treadwell. Only JDHS hockey gets free ice. And the reason for that is because no TMHS nor JDHS teams pay to use any CBJ venues. And why should they since the Juneau School District is part of CBJ.
Agree With Authors
I was at the July 17 meeting and listened to Coach Rutecki passionatly voice suppoert for TMHS. As a mother of 2 TMHS athletes who he has coached in sports other than hockey I apperciate his advocacy for all Juneau youth.
So if CBJ has not formally included JSD in the process why are they repeatedly saying that building TMHS ball fields in Dimond Park is an issue?
In reality both high schools currently have fully functioning baseball and softball teams. It appears that they are making do with the venues already in existence.
But only one high school has a hockey team because there is not enough ice time for 2 teams.
Why wasn’t a JSD or TMHS official at the July 17 meeting to get ice time for TMHS by supporting the rink at Dimond or by getting TMHS ice at Treadwell?
interesting
Hummm
Alaskanstyle - you recognize
That we'll all make up the difference in fuel for a few by paying another (roughly) $250k per year in the city budget for a second ice rink, right?
AKJIM - I am equally as important as you, is all I am saying.
There may be good reasons to open a second rink and double the long-term costs to the entire city. So some people can have a 10 min shorter drive isn't a good one.
Simple - Yes on the math
I agree with your premise and your basic math.
I actually think a second sheet of ice would be good for the community - but I agree with you, while we are cutting budgets by millions, why not build a second sheet of ice in the most economical way possible for the long run? This benefits people who use the ice, and people who don't. The people who use it should be supportive of that, recognizing that it has a low self-sufficiency rate.
Curling!
I'll support this rink if two curling lanes, full bar at member's prices, and a Friday-night rec league are featured.
Curling Rink planned
A separate curling rink is proposed in order to get AWG.