SKATE TRACK OPERATIONS

 

Recommendation

The Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission and staff recommend that Council approve the following operations plan for the skate track:

1. General supervision.
2. Participant registration.
3. Seasonal hours of operation based on available funding for supervision.
4. Establish a sponsorship package and/or user fee to defray the cost of supervision and maintenance.

Background

On June 18, 1999, Council cut ribbon on the City’s 8,000 square foot skate track, located adjacent to Pier Avenue at the Community Center.

This long awaited project has been a tremendous success as a recreation facility with hundreds of skaters using the facility each day. The City posted rules in accordance with AB 1296 and 915 that added skateboarding and in-line skating to the State’s approved list of "hazardous recreational activities" (which provides the City with some liability protection).

Analysis

Despite the success of the new facility, upon its official opening, it became apparent that the track was not operating well absent direct supervision as evidenced by the following:

1. Most skaters would not wear the required safety equipment.
2. Excessive litter.
3. Skaters blocking driveway entrance.
4. Paramedic call-out frequency.
5. Police call-out frequency.

In order to take immediate response to these issues, staff made an administrative decision to provide security staff for the facility during peak hours on a temporary basis, pending Commission and Council review.

Police, Public Works, and Community Resources staff identified some items that would improve facility operations including:

• The addition of signs to discourage: (a) mid-block crossings on Pier Avenue, and (b) blocking Community Center driveway entrance and signs to reiterate safety equipment requirements (inside the Track).

• Adding windscreen to the driveway side to discourage spectators from standing there.

• Drinking fountain and vending machines.

• Safe seating areas on the north side of the facility.

During the planning phases for the track, based on feedback from other cities, the City was discouraged from operating the facility with supervision. While the cost of supervision was one factor listed, the key reason with supervision was discouraged was centered on liability.

That is, the City may be expected to take on a greater level of responsibility for injuries and/or mishaps at the facility if we supervise it. Clearly, this is a factor worth some consideration in making a long-term decision about the Track.

In reviewing AB 1296 (see Attachment A), employees are listed as being "generally immune from liability for injuries resulting from a claimant’s involvement in ‘hazardous recreational activities’ on public property under Government Code Section 831.7." This would suggest that the addition of staffing may not impact the City negatively in terms of liability problems.

Recognizing that the City may absorb some liability exposure for supervision, in the best interests of: (a) participant safety, (b) the Community Center facility and users, and (c) reducing impacts on the Police Department, staffing is recommended by Police, Fire and Community Resources staff.

To accomplish this, staff recommends hiring an event security company to provide monitors at the scheduled hours. Staff would like to contract for this service instead of hiring in-house staff to avail the City to guaranteed scheduling with trained security personnel (e.g., if someone is sick, the company will send in a substitute immediately).

 

A proposed schedule for the track would be as follows:

Season	Days	Hours	Activity	Supervised?	Estimated Cost
Summer	All Days	9 AM – Noon	City Programs	YES Adult Supervision required	N/A User Fees
Summer	All Days	Noon – 9 PM	OPEN SKATE	YES	$9,828
School Year	Weekdays	9 AM – 3 PM	RENTAL HOURS	NO Insurance and Adult Supervision required.	Revenue TBD
School Year	Weekdays	3 PM – 7 PM	OPEN SKATE and Recreation Programs	YES	$9,360
School Year	Weekends	Noon – 7 PM	OPEN SKATE and Recreation Programs	YES	$6,552
Holidays	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

As evidenced above, the costs of monitoring will be substantial. Staff would like to explore revenue recovery for Track operation with the following:

1. Sponsorship: Four corporate sign placements on the Track
2. Registration fees: TBD
3. Rental fees: $60 per hour (same as Hockey Rink).

If adequate cost recovery cannot occur with these programs, staff recommends reducing hours of operation accordingly.

Fiscal Impact: $25,740 Cost to General Fund. Revenue Sources TBD