Fate of old arena subject of council debate

Cambrian arena, closed due to its need for extensive repairs, will not receive any funding this year, decided city council as they tackled the subject of the city's aging arenas.

Instead of investing the money into the aging complex, city council decided to investigate the possibility of pursuing the building of a second ice pad at Countryside Arena in the Four Corners area, as well as examine the feasibility of erecting a new two pad ice rink on a site in New Sudbury. It would be sited on Lorraine Street, just west of Notre Dame Avenue, where the city owns a substantial amount of land.

The decision was made after much debate over what should be done for the city's arenas, which are an average of 38 years old. The 16-year-old Countryside Arena is the city's newest arena.

A report listing the problems with the 37-year-old Cambrian arena was presented at council. It also detailed three options for consideration: repair Cambrian Arena for $2.5 million, add a second ice pad at Countryside for $6.5 million net cost, or develop a new two pad facility in New Sudbury for an estimated $25 million.

At issue during the meeting was whether to reinvest in the Cambrian Arena.

According to the report, an immediate capital investment of $1.25 million would be required to open the arena for the 2010/2011 season. That money would be used to replace the rink slab with a new sub-surface heating system, roof repair/replacement, purchase of rink boards and a condenser unit.

The repairs wouldn't address other issues that exist with the arena, said the report.

The arena “lacks many amenities that are common in newer facilities, and also has many issues related to inadequate and insufficient parking.” An additional $1.25 million would be required to upgrade and repair dressing rooms, replace flooring and improve the parking lot.

Debate over the arena's fate was lively.

“Don't put more money into the Cambrian Arena. It was old 15 years ago,” said Ward 10 Coun. Frances Caldarelli. Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau compared the arena to an old car, saying that it was time to stop paying repair bills and invest in something new.

“I don't support a red cent going into Cambrian Arena. The parking was poor when I coached there 17 years ago,” insisted Ward 9 Coun. Doug Craig, agreeing with a point brought forward in the report.

Though it was eventually decided to mothball Cambrian arena, the decision wasn't made without some lively discussion.

Caldarelli said she wondered about how much demand there would be for arenas in the future.

“I don't support spending $25 million on a two pad (facility) on Lorraine Street. I might support an add-on at Countryside Arena," said Caldarelli, who was concerned about the need for arenas in the future. She also demanded that demographic information be provided by city staff in any report coming to council.

"A doctor told me that the number of babies being born from Sudbury in the local hospital is way down,” she said. "What are the births taking place that actually are from the city and not from other towns and cities? How many five to 10-year-old children will there be (in ten years)? What part of the city is having the most births? I do not see a big next generation coming up.”

Mayor John Rodriguez reminded council that arenas are used by many age groups, not just children.

The real challenge to big spending plans came from Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan.

“Who is going to pay? People who cannot afford to pay that (cost) is who will pay,” stated Callaghan.

“The province and federal government are in debt. This is not like the 1980s. There will not be a lot of dollars (available) in the next five years.”

He said even if council goes ahead and builds new ice rinks, there still will be 12 “clunker” arenas left.

Rodriguez rebuffed those remarks, saying that times had been tough in the past and yet council had gone ahead with infrastructure projects.

“It was tough economic times in 1980, yet council decided to build Science North. Some said 'why would anyone come here when there was a science centre in Toronto to visit?' But council had the vision, they saw the potential. They built it. Now everyone is proud of how it has grown," said the mayor.

“These are times when you make investments in infrastructure.”

He argued to go ahead with a double pad surface in the city core and then put an extra pad at countryside Arena.

“Then we will be in good shape as we shut down older facilities.”

But some councilors favoured the opposite - build a second ice-pad at Countryside Arena and then take the time to develop a sound plan for a two pad surface on Lorraine Street.

Craig pointed out that expanding Countryside Arena had its advantages in terms of cost savings and its prime location for traveling teams.

“I like the payroll savings at Countryside. It is also pre-designed for a second ice pad. It is accessible for citizens from the west in Lively, to residents from the east and centrally from the Lockerby and Lo-Ellen area. This is a prime location now that we have the overpass.”

Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino said before the vote was taken that it was critical the public realized what was being decided.

“This decision means we are not spending money on an old facility (this year). It is not a blank cheque. We are asking staff to come back with a funding formula for a two pad arena. We are asking them to find partners and to use city money to leverage other monies.”

He also said this time there should be various designs brought back.

“Let us have a bronze, silver and gold design this time for the two pad ice pad (facility).”

But Callaghan expressed concerns that a motion allowing staff to further investigate a two pad facility would set up council to eventually spend the money. He requested that more time is needed to get the community on board with any plans for new facilities. He voted against the motion that allowed staff to investigate both the second and third options.