City increases Ice Den rental fees

A public hearing Monday on an increase in ice rental fees at the Stumptown Ice Den quickly slipped into users of the facility pleading their case to have an extended ice season.

Hockey players and parents of figure skaters told the city they want to see more time added to the ice season. The city parks board last week made the decision to limit the season to eight months total.

Tanya Gersh said if user groups are forced out because of a shorter season, then the city will lose that income.

“We have parents who are committed to keeping this open and finding money for an extended season,” she said. “We will pay an increase in fees because we believe in this facility.”

Colby Shaw, president of the Glacier Hockey Association, said the increase in fees could be difficult for families to pay.

“If we don’t have junior hockey or figure skating our kids will have to leave,” he said. “We want you to consider rehashing with the park board about the best use of the facility.”

The Ice Den began operating with a six month season and by 2011 had increased to an eight-month season. Last year the season grew to nearly 11 months.

City Council on Monday unanimously approved an increase in private ice rental fees by $20 per hour next year, and $5 per hour in fiscal year 2017. It also adopted a fee schedule for an extended season beyond the six-month regular season.

“We believe in the facility and want to see it grow,” councilor Andy Feury said. “The parks board has rationale for why it made its decision.”

Council did ask the park board to again meet with user groups to continue exploring an extended ice season.

“We set the fees and the park board will set the season,” Feury said. “Now we have a rate structure to allow for an extended season.”

However, park board chairman Doug Wise was adamant that the facility isn’t designed for year-round ice and the board set a clear schedule based on that.

“It’s time to let everyone know what the ice time would be on an ongoing basis,” he said. “I wish we had a magic wand and we could operate that facility year-round.”

Councilor Richard Hildner likened the Ice Den to a car that needs maintenance. He said if the car has its scheduled oil changes and isn’t driven beyond its limits, it will be on the road longer.

“The park board has suggested that the facility operate for six to eight months,” he said. “We have a facility that needs our care and it’s not designed for an 11-month season.”

Councilor Jen Frandsen pointed out that all of the user groups using the facility seem to be growing in numbers.

“We’re at a crucial point in the decision,” she said. “We don’t want the time limit to be a detriment to the programs, citizens or the economic benefit of the Ice Den. We also have to be realistic with rates and accommodate for capital improvements.”

The Ice Den has operated with a deficit of $607,000 over the past eight years. The rink was in the black for the first time last season with a cash balance of $237.

“It’s very obvious that there is a subsidy going on at the ice rink,” city manager Chuck Stearns said. “It should be self-sufficient. Once given a subsidy, it’s then difficult to take that away.”

Due to insufficient funding over the last decade, maintenance at the facility has not be adequately addressed, according to Parks and Recreation director Maria Butts.

Butts recommended the fee increase for the six-month regular season along with fees for a potential extended season as a way to create a reserve fund for maintenance.

“User groups have shown significant interest in September ice,” she said. “At this time, only two user groups utilize April ice.”

User groups use about 4,265 hours of ice time during the regular season. Groups currently pay $65 per hour for non-prime ice, $115 per hour for regular ice, or $175 per hour for prime ice time.

Butts pointed out that during the non-prime ice rental time, which runs Monday through Friday before 10 a.m., and Monday through Sunday after 10 p.m., the city is actually losing money.

“That $65 doesn’t open the doors,” she said. “I would rather close the doors than lose money on that hour of operation.”

Under the new fee schedule, non-prime ice is $85 per hour, regular ice is $135 per hour, and prime ice is $195 per hour.

The extended season rates, after the sixth-month regular season, are broken down by one-month extensions. A one-month extension would require a $19,000 base fee of guaranteed rental time and two-months would cost $29,0000.

The minimum base fee has been set based on the minimum financial requirement to keep ice on the floor and staff the facility, according to Butts.