Simple Solution would have worked for tennis facility, says Community Tennis Club : The Auroran : http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran

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Simple Solution would have worked for tennis facility, says Community Tennis Club

At the September 16 General Committee meeting, Council received a recommendation from staff that Council approve a $200,000 amount to hire a design consultant. The consultant's job, in a nutshell, is to research what a multi-purpose tennis facility is and to solicit community input.
Of course, the recommendation to hire a consultant was rejected by Council. The Stewart Burnett Park Tennis RFP is stalled or dead in the water when all that is needed are some minor edits to make the original RFP better.
Over the past 10 years, the ACTC Board of Directors has conducted numerous surveys with members and with the public. We learned that a multi-purpose facility, with raisable sides would be very welcomed by the tennis community and the general public. We showcased a multi-purpose centre with raisable sides in our Fleury Park Feasibility Report.
While turning down our location, the majority of Council expressed their preference for our design. The research in our Feasibility Report provided examples of multi-purpose recreation facilities across North America. It also cited numerous references to the need for a multi-purpose “hub” facility in our own Aurora. An example of multi-use facility is the Air Canada Centre. It provides a hockey rink, a basketball court and a concert venue. Multiple purpose = Mucho revenue.
An example of a structure with raisable side walls can be seen in Collingwood, Ontario. The town built a new Aquatics Centre with raisable sides giving them the ability to open exterior doors for an outdoor pool experience during favourable weather. (www.collingwoodliving.com/news_PoolOpening.html).
A multi-purpose building ensures long term economic viability for the owner (private sector) and opens the doors to other groups using the facility.
The solution is simple. The RFP that resulted in a bubble proposal being selected (and rejected by Council as not good enough for the Town) can be easily edited to explain what a multi-purpose facility with raisable sides is and then let the Private Sector respond with their proposals.
We suggest that a Council member can make the following motion:

That the original RFP of Dec. 2, 2013 (PRS 2013-89) be re-issued with editing. Any reference to a dome or bubble is replaced with the words “rigid or semi-rigid” structure with raisable sides.
In the definitions section of the RFP, add a definition of rigid or semi rigid: The Sand and Salt Storage facility in Newmarket or the Collingwood Centennial Pool could be used as examples.

Rigid is a steel frame and insulated panel building
Semi-rigid refers to a rib and fabric skin structure
Let's get this project back on track, it's not that complicated Council members.

Brent MacKinnon
President, Aurora Community Tennis Club

Post date: 2014-10-01 14:45:43
Post date GMT: 2014-10-01 18:45:43
Post modified date: 2014-10-01 14:45:43
Post modified date GMT: 2014-10-01 18:45:43