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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/2000 ~ ~z_.~ --o0 BAKERSFIELD Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Patricia J. DeMond Randy Rowles Staff: Alan Christensen SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the City Council - City of Bakersfield Tuesday, April 4, 2000 7:00 p.m. City Hall - Council Chamber 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA AGENDA 1. ROLL CALL 2. ADOPT MARCH 7, 2000.AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. ICE SKATING FACILITY 1. Staff background information on efforts made to attract an ice rink to date 2. Public comments and suggestions on need for ice facilities and how to accomplish the project 3. Committee direction to staff on action items 5. ADJOURNMENT AC:jp S:~C\CSCommittee\cs00apr04agen.wpd FEE COP'Y DRAFT BAKERSFIELD ~ ~ Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager Patricia J. DeMond Staff: Alan Christensen Randy Rowles AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT SPECIAL MEETING COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, March 7, 2000 4:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL CALL Call to Order at 4:07 p.m. Present: Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan, Chair (Left at 5:00 p.m.) Councilmember Patricia J. DeMond Councilmember Randy Rowles (Arrived at 4:40 p.m.) 2. ADOPT JUNE 2, 1999 AND JANUARY 18, 2000 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORTS Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. STAFF UPDATE AND COMMITTEE DISCUSSION REGARDING ENTRY SIGNS AND BEAUTIFICATION OF ENTRANCES Alan Chdstensen stated that the Mayor is still very much interested in taking on the entry signs as a project before he leaves office. Staff and the Mayor have discussed the designs that have been developed thus far and are working on some variations, themes and ideas to bring back to the Committee. The Mayor accompanied by staff have visually identified some locations on Highway 99 North and South and Highway 58 East. The best locations are owned by CaITrans, but their usual policy is basically not to allow anything to be placed there, especially monuments. Staff is in the investigation stage of what private properties might be available, but finding funding sources is a priority. DRAFT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, March 7, 2000 Page -2- The Mayor has talked to his Economic Development GrOup about possibly sponsoring or finding funding, but at this time there have been no commitments. Staff has made some initial estimates that two or three entrance signs, including securing right-of-way or acquiring land, might cost about $200,000. Staff will continue to assist the Mayor in looking for funding and report back to the Committee. B. STAFF UPDATE AND COMMI'I-rEE DISCUSSION REGARDING ICE SKATING FACILITY PROPOSED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY (This item heard last.) Staff reported that they made a trip to Los Angeles and spoke with the operators of Pershing Square, which is a temporary ice dnk. The operating costs for this rink are $25,000 per week and that does not include electricity. This rink is operated about nine weeks out of the year. It is very temperature dependent. Staff felt it was worth the trip to get first-hand information, but it does not appear to be the answer to what is needed in Bakersfield at this time. Different types of funding to build an ice rink were discussed. Alan Tandy stated that a pdvate sector loan based on conversations with parties that do ice facilities; is not going to be forth coming because the economics are simply not there. Staff has researched a non-recourse bond, which is a bond the City could issue but which the repayment is not pledged against the full faith and credit of the City. The repayment would be pledged against the land, building, and revenue stream from the building. A non-recourse bond is_ one that is placed by an underwriter. The negatives are that it would require an independent analyst showing a pro forma for the business that returned 1.5 times its cost, and it would carry a higher interest rate than a standard municipal bond by as much as 1%. Another alternative is a standard COP such as was used to build the Centennial Garden and Convention Center, but with this type of funding there would be recourse to the City. The Committee discussed different possible sites. Staff reported that an operator who owns 20 or so ice rinks came to Bakersfield and toured with staff to help with advice on the type of site that makes good business sense to an operator. The unbendable requirement is that it has to be a location where parents would feel safe in dropping off their children and coming back later to pick them up. The site should also provide good traffic flow and visibility. It needs to be a minimum of two acres. Four acres would allow for expansion to a two-sheet facility and parking at a later date. The site must be commercially zoned, which drives'the price so high that it becomes Unaffordable in terms of a business pro forma working. City-owned land or donated .land are needed for a viable project. Staff has been working to Iocate a large land owner who might be willing to donate land, but no one has been forth coming as yet. Donations can be made to the City through the Bakersfield Foundation, which would qualify the donations as tax deductible. The Committee discussed the fact that in order to make this a viable project, donations of money and/or land from the private sector will be needed. There are many people in the community expressing interest in having an ice rink that are not able.to come to meetings during the day and there is a need to give the community an opportunity to participate in the funding and planning. Committee member Rowles made a motion that the Committee hold open public meetings in the evening specifically to get public input on the ice rink The motion was approved and staff was directed to set a meeting and use a vadety of media and outlet sources to promote the meeting. DRAFT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE TuesdaY, March 7, 2000 Page -3- C. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING TRAFFIC MEDIAN STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY Public Works staff brought photos and updated the Committee on the work in progress on the sample medians that are being constructed for Councilmembers to visualize before making decisions on a median standard. The concrete work is in and the rock work is about 75% complete on the sample median on California Avenue between Owens and King Streets. Upon completion of the rock work, weather permitting, the trees will be scheduled for planting. The sample median on South "H" is just getting started. The main irrigation line has been installed for both. Committee Chair Sullivan stated she liked the way the round planters looked, rather that the square ones. Because this is a long-term project, she would prefer that the median standard chosen be as high .in quality as possible even if we have to do less area each year. The field models will allow looking at the actual finished median, rather than just an artist rendering, to see if it meets the quality standard desired for median upgrades. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m. Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager Alan Chdstensen; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; Public Works Engineering Services Manager Jack LaRochelle; Public Works Civil Engineer Ted Wdght; Public Works Park and Landscape Designer Don Hoggatt; Assistant Recreation and Parks Director Allen Abe; and Parks Assistant Superintendent Mike Doyle. Public: Barbara Gdmes, Stan Dodson, and Shaun Sigrest. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council S:~,C\CSCommittee~cs0OrnarO7summary.wpd B A K E R S F I E 'L D Alan Tandy · City Manager PRESS RELEASE March 17, 2000 CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON THE NEED FOR AN ICE SKATING FACILITY The Community Services Committee of the City Council will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The purposes of the meeting are: 1 ) To hear from the public on the need for an ice skating facility. 2) To update the community on research and efforts made, to date, to attract an ice skating facility to Bakersfield. 3) In light of the financial difficulties in attracting such a business, to solicit ideas and comments on how the community, itself, might assist through donations of land, cash, or other forms, to make it more feasible to attract such a business to Bakersfield. For information contact Alan Tandy, City Manager, at 326-3751. City of Bakersfield · CitY Manager's Office · 1501 TruxtUn Avenue Bakersfield · Califorma · 93301 (661) 326-3751 · Fax (661) 852-2050 Need for Ice Skating Facility Background Information The Ice Palace, a private business, closed its doors in April of 1999. After that time, citizens approached the City Council to solicit City assistance in bringing an ice skating facility back to Bakersfield to meet the demands that exist for recreational Skating, youth and adult hockey, and figure skating. The City Council responded, as an interim measure, by making Centennial Garden available, when scheduling conflicts do not exist, for rental and by appropriating $30,000 to help underwrite the cost of using the Garden for that purpose. On October 4, 1999, the Council also referred the long term issue to its Community Services Committee. The Committee has met several times on the matter and, at their request, staff has done considerable research on the subject. A summary of the findings of that research, to date, follows: 1) The construction and operation of a new ice skating facility, as a purely private sector business, is highly unlikely to occur, because it simply does not "pencil out" as an investment, given Bakersfield's demographics and limited history of having ice related activities in the community. 2) If the initial costs for such a facility can be significantly reduced through some combination of public and private sector subsidy, firms experienced in ice rink operations would be interested in operating such a facility in Bakersfield under a lease arrangement or management contract. 3) The estimated cost for a newly constructed facility for a single sheet of ice is $3.4 million dollars, without land. That would include a fairly simple building with locker rooms, gift shop, etc., as well as the initial purchase of equipment, such as a Zamboni. 4) The land .area needed for a new structure would be a minimum of two acres, preferably in a square or rectangular shape to house the building and meet parking needs. Ideally, it should have an adjacent two acres to meet expansion demands sometime in the future. The location must be one where parents would feel comfort in the safety of dropping off children. It is preferable, but perhaps not critical, that the location should be central' enough, so that the travel distance to it would be reasonable from all parts of the City. It is also desirable, but not essential, that it be at a visible location - that is, on a highly traveled arterial street, for example. 5) It might be possible to convert an existing building to this purpose, if it met the above land area, safety, and related conditions. The rink itself, is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. Any converted structure would have to have at least that much space without pillars, beams, or structural support. Or, alternately it would have to be able to be modified to do away with the columns for a fairly reasonable price. To date, no such structures have been identified in Bakersfield which are listed for sale. 6) In order to make the business plan work, it would require, at a minimum, free land and a substantial reduction in the estimated $3.4 million capital cost. Such reductions might be able to be achieved through: a) Donation of the land; b) Locating an existing structure that meets the above listed conditions where it might be cheaper to convert the building, rather than building a new one; c). Cash donations which woUld write down such costs; d) In kind donations of labor, material, or other which would help to reduce costs; e) Business 'loans which would carry below normal repayment obligations in terms of time or repayment and/or interest rates. 2 Note: The City is affiliated with a 501C3 organization called The Bakersfield Foundation. Any donations made through that organization would be tax deductible. 7) The City has researched some potential sites for such a facility. Commercial, or industrial zoning is required. Other locations can be considered - again meeting the size, safety, and related characteristics above. Cost, since the land cost must be reduced to zero, is critical. 8) How can the City help? Any form of City assistance would require the approval of the Bakersfield City Council. The Council would look for a recommendation from the Community Services Committee prior to making a final decision. Theoretically, the types of things that the City might be able to do would be as follows: a) Issue either recourse or nonrecourse bonds to generate the funds to build the project. "Recourse" bonds fall back to the obligation of the City to pay, if the business does not. Non-recourse bonds do not, but require a realistic business pro forma, independently evaluated, which works in addition to the security of the land and business proceeds. Recourse bonds could fall back as a general obligation of the City. Historically, the City Council has been very cautious in the issuance of such bonds. The non-recourse bonds are more likely - if they meet the business tests necessary to make them saleable. b) In certain geographic areas of town, federal block grant funds might be used for land acquisition, relocation, and clearance of deteriorated structures. Such monies are highly competitively sought after however. c) A job creation grant might be possible for a modest amount. The City uses these commonly to attract new business. This would likely only represent a small portion of the total need, however. 3 d) Property tax rebates are feasible, but only if the project is privately, rather than publically owned, and in a redevelopment project area. e) Enterprise zone tax credits can be received from the State, but only if the project is privately owned, and if its location is within the enterprise zone. f) Capital outlay funds - $175,000 was given to the new skateboard facility. These funds depend on availability and are highly competitively sought after. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THESE, OR ANY COMBINATION OF THEM, WOULD BE ENOUGH TO UNDERWRITE THE COSTS NEEDED TO MAKE A PROJECT HAPPEN. MORE ASSISTANCE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR CREATIVE IDEAS THAT REDUCE THE COSTS OF ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE REQUIRED. 4 BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM December 13, 1999 TO: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITT,~// FROM: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: ICE RINK Recently the City Council sent to the Community Services Committee a referral in response to citizen requests for an ice skating facility. A copy of the first report to the Committee, dated October 18, 1999, is enclosed. The purpose of this memo is to supplement that information. A total of four firms have now responded, in some form, to our calls. Three have visited Bakersfield. The fourth had visited several years ago when affiliated with another firm. At this point, the interest level would probably be characterized more accurately as "browsing", rather than final interest after serious study. None of these firms would locate here as a standard private sector investment. It simply does not "pencil out" in that way. At an absolute minimum, land would have to be provided, as well as other incentives to lower the construction cost. The measure of benefit to the City would have to include factors such as job creation, economic revitalization of a project area, and quality of life issues, in addition to the recreational aspect. Major issues could be characterized, as follows: 1) Where would the money come from to build it? There appear to be three theoretical models, as follows: a) Private sector loaned or generated. This appears unlikely, based on preliminary contacts. Some capital contribution may be obtained but not the majority of the funds. b) Certificates of Participation (similar to bonds, they are called "COPS") that involves issuance by a non-profit corporation, in concert with the Redevelopment Agency or City. There appear to be models done for other recreational facilities, some of which do not fall back to the City for debt repayment. The debt is secured by the land and building, and the revenues the building produces. It would require subsidy to make this work - land and/or job creation incentives, for example, which would reduce the debt to Community Services Committee December 13, 1999 Page 2 an appropriate level to make the COPS saleable. This is preliminary; more information is needed to determine if the COPS Can be sold, based on the specifics of our market. c) City debt - with repayment obligation. This is the easiest but, of course, carries the need to repay if, in fact, revenues are not adequate to cover debt service. In an ideal world, the management contract would repay the principal and interest. This version would also require a subsidy to reduce capital costs. It would carry a considerably lower interest rate than A or B above, perhaps as much as 1 to 1-1/2%. Summary of Issue Private capital is the most desirable and least likely. The not for profit COP issue without recourse to the City is the second most attractive if the economics work, but that may be a problem. Debt issuance with the obligation'to repay would carry the lowest interest cost but also the highest risk. 2) Where would the building be located? In theory, it could be located on any appropriate commercial zone, with the following limitations: a) It must make business sense to the operator. A location which made patrons feel uncomfortable dropping off children, for example, would not work, nor would a location that was hard to see or access. b) It should be central enough to serve the entire City population. c) We know that "making it happen" will require incentives. We have far more tools in redevelopment project areas and areas of block grant eligibility than we do elsewhere. d) A potential site between M and N, at California, has been identified. Other locations that fit the above can be considered, as well. We are currently looking into some properties to see if they have potential. If the City Center project happens, that opens up new opportunities, such as land trades, to facilitate this site. The City Center would also make it a stronger project, as the visibility of the facility is enhanced by people passing it to go to the theatres, restaurants, etc. Ideas about alternate sites should be generated as quickly as possible, so that cost and acceptability to the interested firms can be studied. Community Services Committee December 13, 1999 Page 3 3) Single sheet of ice or add space for other ice / non-ice events? The difference is really between about a 30,000 square foot building used only for skating, or a 60,000 square foot building with one ice rink and a second area used for multiple purposes. Obviously, the smaller building is cheaper to build, estimated at $3.4 million (without land) and cheaper to operate. The larger building would be estimated in the $5.2 million range, and it requires more land, so that cost increases, as well.. The extra space could serve multiple needs. It could be used for roller hockey, indoor soccer, volleyball (we recently had a request from the volleyball club to rent the Civic), dance lessons, self defense lessons, after school drop in athletic program, etc. Just as the Condors need ice for practice, if we get arena football and/or indoor soccer, those teams will need a practice facility and a place to do youth lessons, etc. In short, it becomes something of a community center, based on modest charges for use. We do have demands for such space regularly, and the Recreation and Parks Department could certainly help schedule, book, and program it, if the facility is owned by a non profit or the City. A memo from them, showing both practical and survey information on areas of unmet community demands is enclosed. The economics would not improve if space is added, however. Even with charges for use, more subsidy would be needed for the larger multi purpose version, than the ice alone version. Its use would be much more diverse and broad based, however. Going with the larger version would help address Council goals to facilitate the development of cultural and recreational facilities and to promote programs for youth. It also, of course, makes it more costly and difficult to achieve. An alternate would be to start with the smaller structure and design it to be expandable at a future date. Guidance from the Committee on this issue would be valuable. 4) .Even with all of the reasonable incentives the City can offer, private sector support and donations may be critical to getting this done. It will not be an easy task for either sized version. The Condor hockey team has agreed to some cooperative actions. Please see the letter attached. Those items are primarily marketing in nature, rather than capital support. What next? The various firms have individualized approaches to studying the issue further. Some wanted names of people in town with interest in hockey, figure skating, etc. Others are reviewing demographic data. It is likely that we will end up with varying levels of interest at the end of that process, with one or more firms pulling out, even before specifics are discussed. There may also be differing philosophies on the smaller or larger model as different firms take different approaches. Please do not assume that this opportunity will Community Services Committee December 13, 1999 Page 4 be competitively sought after. More likely is the scenario that we will be fortunate to have an interested, qualified firm at the end of the process. In terms of steps, the following would be indicated: 1) Further financial/legal .research is needed to determine which method can be used to generate the money to build. 2) We need to either focus on the larger or the smaller version in order to make discussions productive. 3) We need to keep exchanging concepts / proposals with the interested parties to more precisely define what level of incentives is necessary for the best deal, if a deal can be made. 4) If there are business or private sector donations or contributions out there, now is the time to come forward! 5) Staff will run some financial models and plans to help determine if the project is affordable. AT:rs Attachment cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council Interested Parties (see attached list) ¢- ;,2-07-1999 l l:llAI~t FROI'.~ NATIONAL SPORTS SVCS 423 894 3704 I~. 2 BRKERSFIELD CONDORS PROFEI: IDNRi. HOCKEY e ield Centenniol December 7, 1999 Mr. Alan Tandy City Manager City of Bakersfield 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 Dear Alan, The Bakersfield Condors certainly endorse the addition of a recreational ice rink co the Bakersfield community. The Condors would be willing to offer the following assistance to a developer, ownership interest or facility management company - 1. Purchase of ice time for practice when Centennial Garden is not available. Based on previous usage, the Condors would rent approximately 80 - 90 hours of ice time in the new facility. 2. Transference to the new facility of the dghts to operate the Junior Condors Hockey League program. Presently, the JCHL has 88 members generating approximately $38;000.00 in gross revenues from participants. 3. Donation of 300 pairs df rental skates purchased new in October 1999. Total value at time of purchase 'exceeded $15,000. 4. Transference to the new facility a summer hockey school generating a minimum of 20 rental hours at the ice rink. 5. Discount admission to selected Condors games with coupon distributed st ice rink. 6. Distribution of coupons and promotional materials to drive traffic into the ice rink at every Condor game. 7. Complimentary advertisement in the Condors yearbook. 8. Access to Condors databases [season ticket holders, youth fan club, etc.) for direct mail and telephone solicitation. 9. Player appearances and mascot appearances at the ica rink. 1 0. Additional cross marketing between the Condors and the venue as determined. P.O. I)ox 1806 Bakersfield, CA 93303-.1806 (805) 324-PUCK (7825). Fax: (805) 324-6929 w,~bakersfieldcondor~.com 12-07-1999 11=12AM F~M ~TI~AL SPORTS SVCS 423 894 3704 The Condors look forward to working with the City of Bakersfield end any interested parties in an effort to make a recreational ice rink a reality, In addition to the above, the Condors would certainly make a financial contribution to the project in exchange for reduction in per game rental fee at Centennial Garden. Since~,ly, ~ Oavidson President cc: Jonathan Fleisig Matt Riley ,_~o~ melts away hopes for ice rink wysiwyg://7/http://www.bakersfield.comPoak/i-- 1258193574.asp local news Money melts away hopes for ice rink Filed: 03/24/2000 By JAMES BURGER Californian staff writer e-mail: jbUr~er~bakersfield.com Hockey dads and figure skaters left.out in the heat by the sudden closure of the Ice Palace nearly a year ago face only melted hopes this summer. Money for a new skating fink isn't available and it won't be any time soon. No company will come to Bakersfield to build a new ice rink and the city doesn't have the resources to handle the project either, said City Manager Alan Tandy. Management companies have told the city they'll come to mn a rink, but they won't build, he said. "An ice rink won't pay for itself," Tandy said. "It would take years to build up the business until it was able to pay for the building." His opinion is based on a city study of the need, demand and financial realities of attracting an ice facility to Bakersfield. On April 4, the day before the one-year anniversary of the Ice Palace's closure, the City Council's Community Services Committee will hold a public meeting to release the study at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 1501 Truxtun Ave. "We are going to be there by the carloads -- hockey players, figure skaters, young and old," said skating enthusiast Barbara Grimes. A leader of the Bakersfield Blades Figure Skating Club, Grimes and other club members have been paying $300 an hour over the winter months to skate on the Bakersfield Condors' ice at Centennial Garden. "It's been a really frustrating year," she said. She believes the city can find a way to make an ice rink a reality for Bakersfield. But the results of the city study maintain that construction of an ice rink is beyond the resources Of both private business and the city itself. "In order to make the business plan work it would require, at a I of 2 3/29/00 8:49 AM ~¢:Mofi'~ melts away hopes for ice rink wysiwyg://7/http://www.bakersfield.comPoak/i--1258193574.asp minimum, free land and a substantial reduction of the estimated $3.4 million capital cost," says a draft version of the study. When the Ice Palace closed last year, Kerry Ryan, an owner of Action Sports in Bakersfield, said he thought about taking over operation of the rink. But when the property was converted into the Van's Skate Park, his interest in running a rink faded. "Originally I thought I could take over the operation of the building and mn it more efficiently," he said. But, "I can't go buy the land and build the building." Tandy said the gap between the funding assistance the city could give the project and the cost of building the ice rink is a large one. "It's not marginal. It really is going to take a lot of help," he said. When it's important, Grimes said, the city .finds the money for other projects. This should be no different. "I believe that they can go out and find the money to do an ice rink," she said. Tandy said there is still hope for the rink -- if ice fans can can provide donations, land, labor and money to supplement the city's abilities to issue bonds and seek grants. Part of the purpose of the meeting April 4 is to ask the citizens and supporters of skating for ideas that could increase funding for the project or reduce costs. "Maybe people will have ideas," he said. Bakersfield Blades member Pete Yackley said he hears complaints that the Ice Palace failed because it didn't have enough support in the community. He st. rongly disagrees. Managed well, the rink could survive financially while providing the die-hard fans a place in their city to skate and play hockey. "In this group, it's all we ever talk about," Yackley said. 0 0 0 back back to top home Copyright~ 2000, The Bakersfield Californian I Email the Webmaster Associated Press Copyri.qht NoticeI Pr vacy Policy Statement 2 of 2 3/29/00 8:49 AM Ice team crucial for local club .. ~_. v .. _ ._ .v~,httn://www.hakersfiel&com/s,~t/i... ~,.~,,~ ~,,.~ ~, ~9aa~o ~a~.as~ sports news l~]e ~lal,.er~ielb ffxdi~ornian . ho~r~ ~ Ice team crucial for local club By SHERRY MOMBOURQUETTE Californian staff writer e-mail: smom bourquette~bakersfield.com Many people yearn for a place they can call home. Just ask the Bakersfield Blades Figure Skating Club. The club, which is currently in .the process of being sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association, consists of about 25 members, young and old. Despite the eagerness and dedication of the skaters, the club members find it difficult to find a place to skate. "Many of us used to skate at the Ice Palace until it closed down in April," Bakersfield Blades Publicity Chairman Pete Yackley said. "We're grateful for the Condors letting us work around their schedule, but still it isn't enough. Many of our skaters have to travel to Fresno or L.A. to skate. I can think of at least four rinks in the San Fernando Valley-- it would be nice of we had just one." The Blades currently rent ice time at $300 per hour from Ogden Entertainment, which operates Centennial Garden "We probably wouldn't be skating at all, if it wasn't for our president Barbara Grimes," Jeannie Baer said. "She arranges the ice time and calls everyone." However, the opportunities are limited since Centennial Garden accommodates the Condors, CSUB basketball, concerts and other shows. The Blades will not be able to rent Centennial Garden again until the end of January. "The need for an ice rink here in Bakersfield is great," Yackley said. Prior to the Ice Palace, there weren't any ice rinks in town for 20-30 years. The young skaters need the consistency. If you don't skate two to three times a week, then it's hard to improve. The large hockey community would like to see a rink built too." "Even the Condors could use an ice rink here too to practice, "adds Blade parent Jeannie Baer. In May, Bakersfield Blade member Amy Baer, 16, went as far as to send out letters to 20 different ice skating rink construction companies across the country. She received only two responses, one from Hockey World and another from a company in Van Nuys that showed possible interest. "There's been several efforts for rinks to come to town," Yackley said. ! of 2 12/21/99 1:09 PM Ice team crucial for local club http://www.bakersfield.com/spt/i-- 1266389165.asp "Right now we're focusing on getting our club sanctioned so we can make a stronger appeal for the rink. Ironically, you have to have skating time in order to apply for sanctioning with the USFSA, so it's not easy." Yackley is also hoping to draw more members to the club so as to create a large contingency of residents wanting to see the fruition of a new ice rink. "There used to be an Ice Club in the 70s and 80s so I'm hoping to attract ' some of those adult skaters," Yackley said. "Plus, there's people moving here all the time, and they may want to give skating a try. It's a popular sport; it's on TV all the time." The Bakersfield City Council was to hold a meeting on Dec. 17 regarding the local skating public and the need for facilities, yet it was cancelled and rescheduled for January. "For the last couple of meetings we have been looking to see how the city can help assist in building an ice rink here," assistant city manager Alan Christensen said. "We do recognize a need for it, with the large group of local hockey teams and skaters, and we're trying to respond. We are currently in contact with a couple of different private businesses that build and manage these kind of rinks so we are familiar with what's out there and what might.work in the valley." In the meantime, many of the Blades skaters have had to stop their training. "Basically, skating has been halted unless I can get time at Centennial Garden," Amy Baer said. "I love skating. It's so different from most other sports like basketball and basebalk You get to jump and spin and have the grace of a dancer." The Blades have recently applied for club sanctioning with the USFSA with the help of one of the parents who is an attorney. The Blades will have a six-month probation period before they can be considered an actual club by the USFSA. "We're hoping by the time we end our probationary period, construction of a new ice rink should be under way," Yackley said. Filed: 12/20/99 .t} O O back back to top home Copyright~ 1999, The Bakersfield Californian I Email the Webmaster Associated Press Copyright NoticeI Privacy Policy Sta~'~' 2 of 2 12/21/99 1:09 PM