[0:00] Okay, we're now being recorded. This is Laura Berwick. This is the second meeting of the Terry Conner's

[0:07] Joint Committee on September 22nd. It's approximately 507 p.m. And from the committee joining me right

[0:17] now, our Chris Delasava, Dennis Mahoney, Thomas Madden, Katherine Emmett, who is our general counsel,

[0:25] who is not on the committee, but she's joining us as a guest joiner, and I'm going to turn

[0:32] it over right now to my colleague Thomas Madden, who's going to run the public hearing section

[0:37] of this as we as we put in the announcement of the meeting, because we had a public session last

[0:45] two weeks ago. We are limiting this now to a 30-minute session and Thomas is going to be our

[0:56] timekeeper. We're going to limit comments to two minutes so that everybody who has signed up can

[1:00] get in. We had as one of the rules for this hearing that if you had spoken less in two weeks ago

[1:11] that we were asking that you not sign up again to speak, so I know there were at least three

[1:16] speakers who signed up who did have an opportunity to speak last week, so we are not going

[1:22] to call on you to speak again because this was in a combination because of a conflict two weeks ago.

[1:29] So without further ado, I'm going to turn over to Thomas Madden and I will let him run the public hearing

[1:38] Thank you.

[1:39] Excellent.

[1:39] Thank you so much Laura.

[1:40] So just to clear the record, this is not a public hearing.

[1:43] This is a public comment session on the rank and the rank operations.

[1:47] As I mentioned last time during the public comment session,

[1:51] that we are looking for your input on how the rank is actually operated.

[1:56] Either ways that the rank can be operated better as your revenue streams that we

[2:02] could be looking at or if we do choose to go out to an RFP at any point, what works from the

[2:08] conditions that we were looking, you know, should be incorporating into that RFP. So I will

[2:14] now line up my first speaker, which is Peter Hennessy.

[2:23] Laura's got him. Yeah, I'm looking to try to

[2:25] find him. If Peter could raise his hand because I don't see him in

[2:33] the list, he may be on a phone number.

[2:37] Hang on a second. Let's see you three, two, seven. Hang on a second. Let's not see you.

[2:44] I don't see the phone number on there. Okay.

[2:47] All right, so we will.

[2:50] We'll move to our second speaker.

[2:50] Go move to our second speaker.

[2:53] Uh, Janette.

[2:55] Plananski. Oh, I got that right.

[2:58] Uh, you're next.

[3:10] Five, two, four is the right there.

[3:11] You're right. So I just saw the phone number.

[3:13] I

[3:18] think we lost a phone here there, Laura.

[3:22] Okay, sorry.

[3:23] We're, Janette.

[3:25] Yeah, it was the last four digits or four, four, four, six.

[3:34] I don't see it. Do you see it?

[3:36] It was just on there, and then I just like, click off.

[3:42] All right, we'll move to our third speaker.

[3:43] We'll circle back, Pam Foster.

[3:53] I'm not seeing that one either.

[3:54] Do you see it?

[3:57] One, one, zero, five, six.

[3:59] I don't see that as a calling either.

[4:03] Oh no, I see you're now.

[4:04] That's just right for hand.

[4:13] We're on mute.

[4:15] Thank you.

[4:17] Can everyone hear me?

[4:18] We can hear you.

[4:20] Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

[4:22] My name is Pamela Foster,

[4:23] and I'm the president of the skating

[4:24] of the Southern Connecticut.

[4:26] I have two daughters that skate individually

[4:28] and with a Southern Connecticut

[4:29] synchronized skating organization.

[4:31] I do not have a long family history with skating. My experience with skating began 10 years ago when my oldest was in kindergarten.

[5:00] That first step on the ice, she was hooked. Since then, she and her younger sister have participated in just

[5:05] about every figure skating offering hosted at Terry Connors. From group lessons to summer camp to joining

[5:11] the synchronized skating team to competing in individual competitions and testing. And now my

[5:17] eldest is an instructor where she is able to pass her joy of skating onto others. To say that Terry

[5:22] Connors is a big part of our lives is a major understanding. What I ask for this committee to consider

[5:28] is a service that the City of Stanford provides to its community.

[5:33] Now more than ever, the community needs a safe, affordable outlet for kids and adults alike

[5:37] to come together, whether it be hockey, figure skating, or even just a fun afternoon activity.

[5:43] As a community rank, groups like the Skate Club, Sincro, and Stanford be hockey

[5:47] have been able to keep tuition low in order to offer opportunities for families that would

[5:52] otherwise be unable to participate in what we all know are being expensive for.

[5:57] Privateizing this range will put profits over people.

[6:00] We're pricing will exclude many Stanford residents, two towns on affordable programs for

[6:05] their children.

[6:06] Thank you.

[6:08] Excellent.

[6:08] Thank you so much for your comments on that.

[6:13] All right.

[6:16] Rosemary.

[6:17] Vanessa.

[6:19] I saw I did see a Rosemary or what's rose, but Rosemary is on here.

[6:22] I'm

[6:30] sorry.

[6:30] We can hear you.

[6:31] Great.

[6:31] Thanks.

[6:32] First of all, thank you for this meeting today.

[6:34] My first comment is a time, though.

[6:37] I feel that you have a meeting regarding children and families at the time at five o'clock.

[6:43] That's usually not good for people to participate.

[6:46] A later time probably would have been a better time to get more families involved.

[6:51] I've been at Ciri Conner's skating ring for the minute these doors open.

[6:55] literally. I have been a skater myself. I have been an employee as a teenager, as an adult.

[7:02] I have been the director of the skating rake and my daughter has often been skating skaters.

[7:08] My whole story is repetitive skater that started here at Terry Conner's skating rake.

[7:13] The question here is about revenue. Ever since I have been here, there is always the new

[7:19] faces into the Group Lesson Program, our camps, and our Group Lesson Programs are always successful

[7:26] and bring in a revenue that helps support this rank.

[7:31] Public sessions are busy, it's an opportunity to family.

[7:34] In a time where children and family need support and positive activities, the people that

[7:39] are supposed to be looking out for the welfare of the community and Stanford needs to step

[7:44] up and do its right.

[7:46] Selling this spring, shutting it down, or whatever opportunities there that will limit the opportunities to the community, to people of all different ethics, as well as economical abilities to pay the fees for the ranks, would not be to the best service of this community.

[8:05] Skating not only offers a sport, it offers discipline, life skills, competence to our children.

[8:14] It gives a place for families to spend time together, and a time where lives matter.

[8:20] Why are we worried so much about money?

[8:23] Terry Conner provides a reasonable opportunity to the community and is a responsibility and

[8:30] more obligation of this committee to do what's right for the community at large and I feel

[8:38] that this opportunity for kids to skate and do something positive and the long one can

[8:43] say the community money by kids staying up to streets, building self confidence and

[8:50] Thank you very much.

[8:55] Alright, the next person to speak is Julia.

[8:59] Yeah.

[8:59] I just fell down.

[9:01] Oh, I got that right.

[9:04] Okay.

[9:04] Let me go.

[9:06] Are you going outside?

[9:07] All right.

[9:07] I'm going to come on your team.

[9:10] Hang on.

[9:10] I'm looking for...

[9:13] She's on there.

[9:14] She's on there.

[9:17] I just want to raise your hand.

[9:22] There she is.

[9:23] Okay.

[9:23] Thank you.

[9:28] You're on mute.

[9:30] Hello, my name is Julia Pelvinos, and I'm a skater on the shadows, one of Southern Connecticut synchronized skating's three teams.

[9:39] During the past five years, I've had the opportunity to move up to the club's various levels and teams,

[10:00] I have also improved my leadership skills taking on greater responsibility and learned more about teamwork than in any other activity.

[10:09] Without Terry Conner's rank none of this would have been possible.

[10:13] As a 17-year-old, I do not know a lot about operations and behind the scenes of the rank.

[10:19] But I do know that the rank is run by amazing people who are terrific at their jobs.

[10:23] Making decisions about the rank without consulting them is unwise because they truly know Terry Conner's best.

[10:31] Terry Conner's rank is one of the most affordable ranks in the state.

[10:34] One of the best things about Terry Conner's is that it has given lower income skaters a place to develop their skills.

[10:41] Without access to a reasonably priced rank, many people would not be able to enjoy the thrill that is skating.

[10:47] If the rank was to be bought by a third party, there's a possibility that many rank users would no longer be able to afford ice time,

[10:55] therefore making skating less accessible to all.

[10:57] As someone who has had the opportunity to skate at Terry Connors, I can truly say that the programs offered are of great quality while still being affordable.

[11:06] As a high school senior, this will be my last year skating full-time at Terry Connors.

[11:12] I will miss being at the rank, but I hope for the generations of synchronized skaters coming behind me.

[11:18] Many of my friends are younger than me, and I'd like them to have the same opportunities to finish their skating careers in the way that I will not get to due to the pandemic.

[11:27] Please consider the low income families developing skaters and the growing alumni of our club before you make this decision.

[11:34] Terry Conners has given me the best eight years of my life. Please don't take that experience away from any other skater.

[11:42] Thank you.

[11:45] Thank you so much for your comments.

[11:48] Thomas, I have Jeanette.

[11:51] I found her phone number.

[11:53] So we're going to allow Jeanette to speak.

[11:57] Jeanette,

[12:00] you, you need to unmute your phone.

[12:02] And you'll be able to speak.

[12:07] I think it starts six.

[12:10] Thank you.

[12:16] You're on.

[12:23] All right, Janet, we're not hearing you yet.

[12:32] Can you hear me now?

[12:33] We can hear it, yes.

[12:35] All right.

[12:35] Okay, sorry about that.

[12:37] My name is Jeanette Village Nanski.

[12:38] Thank you for the opportunity to make a request to the committee.

[12:42] If an RFP is drafted, please include all existing user eye signs.

[12:46] Require better to sustain how their financial model was to subsidize our rates without moving our times

[12:52] and are overcrowded the ice.

[12:55] Our community should not be displaced by those who can afford to pay more,

[12:59] nor should our children be forced to escape on after hours.

[13:03] Require that the least, let's see if it's the enough for profit.

[13:06] This is the only way to guarantee that profit will not outweigh access to affordable ice time.

[13:13] Please consider that a public hearing alone with limited participation from

[13:22] required is user representation on the committee, acting in a advisory capacity or even as

[13:27] a guest as Ms. Emmett is, user membership would provide for a dynamic ongoing dialogue when laying

[13:33] down terms for an RFP or lease. It would ensure that our children don't get short change in

[13:39] the process because of a lack of communication. Concerns regarding user conflict that interest

[13:43] can be addressed by going into executive session when drafting one. Please consider that the

[13:48] that TCR puts out some of the best ice in the area, survey outside users, market their findings,

[13:55] and have non-residents pay the price that it's called for. Don't give away the ranked

[13:59] the highest bidder without knowing its true value. The ranked can see over 2,000 people. How many

[14:06] ranks in the area can accommodate that many? What the help of the downtown special services district

[14:11] revenue generating events can be organized potentially generating $80,000. It's an event is charged

[14:17] for you to always per person.

[14:19] Consider the NBC Sports and WWE Stanford Companies

[14:22] could lease the Rink for Special Events.

[14:25] If the city goes down the road of privatization,

[14:28] commission on revenues for large scale events is a must.

[14:32] Finally, don't undervalue a community asset

[14:34] that can make money for the city

[14:36] because the city lacks the wealth or skills

[14:38] that to develop.

[14:39] Consider a non-for-profit public partnership

[14:42] similar to Mill River that can meet the goals

[14:44] of both the community and the city,

[14:46] The proposed model would return precious dollars to needed infrastructure rather than the

[14:51] to the pockets of the highest bidder. Thank you.

[14:56] All right. Perfect. Genet. Thank you. That was very

[14:59] succinct.

[15:00] If you are here just raise your hand,

[15:08] all right. We will go to the next speaker and we'll we can circle back. Stephanie.

[15:27] Highly, nine one seven. I don't see her.

[15:31] Hold on, let me see our letter.

[15:38] Stephanie, if you're on, you could raise your hand.

[15:47] We'll move to the next person. Debbie Kelly.

[15:52] Nice. Debbie. All right, perfect.

[15:56] All right, Debbie, we can hear you're on.

[15:59] Great, thank you.

[16:01] So my name is Debbie Kelly.

[16:02] Thanks for giving us time to speak.

[16:05] I'm the mother of a 10 year old and a 13 year old

[16:08] who are both taking or in public school and Stanford.

[16:13] And you know, in the elementary years,

[16:15] we did have an opportunity to move.

[16:17] And we doubled down.

[16:18] We stayed in Stanford.

[16:19] We didn't leave and go to one of the communities around us.

[16:22] We chose Stanford because it's a diverse community.

[16:25] Um, and we love what it has to offer one of the things that I personally have a concern about as I see that we've got three locations of ranks in Stanford and a total we have five ranks right now.

[16:37] Only one of them is really accessible on a regular basis to families. My daughter who's 13 is on the Southern Connecticut secret ice skating team, which we only found out about through her doing her private lessons.

[16:50] I'm sorry, her public lessons at Terry Conner's. Both of my kids have not only done lessons there,

[16:56] they have attended summer camp there, it's a great asset, and I wanted to really stress the fact

[17:01] that I think keeping the rank as a non-profit is the best way for us to deliver on the city that

[17:09] works and really make sure that we do have a rank in the city that everybody has access to,

[17:15] regardless of income.

[17:17] I personally have had penal responsibility in my job.

[17:21] My husband's in a financial role at a non-profit.

[17:24] I realize these are not easy decisions.

[17:26] It's not something where everybody can say yes or no,

[17:28] it's not that easy.

[17:29] I think there's a lot of hard work to do,

[17:31] but there's a lot of creative opportunities to do it.

[17:34] I also have a background in marketing,

[17:36] and I know that getting types of people

[17:38] who have done this type of work and other ranks

[17:40] and other places can help us just like the other person

[17:43] suggested, find creative ways to get additional income to help make that possible. I do also

[17:50] just want to say that I know that people, you know, say that the rank is in the best looking

[17:54] rank around. I don't think anybody that uses this rank really cares. To be honest, they love the rank,

[18:00] and I'll tell you that from other skaters that have come here, we have some of the best ice

[18:04] around. I personally and not a great skater. I can't testify to that, but I can tell you that

[18:08] it's recognized from around, and that's what's important to people. I don't know whether it's

[18:13] potentially in the future. There's a lot of space down there for

[18:16] potential, always potential income from a second rank. I know that was

[18:20] discussed in the past on the same property. Lots of

[18:23] potential for the future. And I hope that it's something that the

[18:27] city you continues to invest in. Thank you.

[18:31] Excellent. Thank you so much, Debbie. We appreciate the

[18:33] comments. And I will agree with you. The very

[18:36] Congress does have the best ice as I referee their quite a bit.

[18:39] So, uh, next person is John Nielsen?

[18:45] Hi, committee. Can you hear me?

[18:47] Yes. Perfect.

[18:49] Well, I just want to thank all of you for the opportunity to speak.

[18:53] I've had the, I've been fortunate not for the last 10 to 15 years to be a big part of

[18:58] Stanford, youth hockey. I was president for two terms for four years, up until 2018.

[19:03] So, very familiar with all the families and the needs and requests, and I think you've had

[19:07] great speakers. I know Jeanette outlined a lot of good revenue streams. This is obviously a business decision.

[19:13] We have to find the revenue and I don't want to repeat everything that was said in allocate time.

[19:18] But I think there's a couple of things that are important to kind of point out and I don't know if it's my age

[19:23] talking about certain movies and how they really categorize. But you think of a wonderful life and George Bailey and Potter.

[19:29] Right. So if we're talking about this great savings alone, this great rank, and we're going to give this just away for a few dollars now.

[19:35] But it's going to, it's not going to take care of those in the community that really need access to this.

[20:00] Fires at all the elementary schools, helping race funds for the high school players. There's a lot of, there's an underserved community in Stanford that if we just give away this asset to the highest bidder, and we don't take care of, you know, the community, you know, the city that works, it's really going to be a huge disservice. So I know you're decisions not easy, but being on the front line for over a decade and kind of seeing the fact that there's all these links being built around this, there's obviously money to be generated from these types of assets.

[20:30] I think our speakers so far tonight have outlined a lot of great opportunities to do that.

[20:34] I just don't want us to be short-sighted.

[20:36] It's not all about making the most potential profit possible, but as long as it's a self,

[20:42] if it's sustained itself, and adds to the value of the community and quality of life for

[20:47] everybody, not just those who can afford to play skate and hockey and so on,

[20:53] I think that's what we have to keep in mind as you make this decision.

[20:56] I appreciate the time.

[20:58] Excellent. Thank you so much, John. I appreciate the comments. Next, Stephanie Ushia.

[21:09] I'm still on mute for Stephanie.

[21:17] Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you now.

[21:20] Hi. Thank you. So my name is Stephanie Ushia and I am a lifelong Stanford resident and a hockey mom for the past 10 years.

[21:30] So, I think over the past few months you obviously have heard a lot from us, from Stanford

[21:37] sharks.

[21:38] So, you know, our desire to have TCR be the way that it's meant to be in a affordable

[21:45] place for our kids to play hockey.

[21:48] We, you know, have reached out to you guys and to other city folks on, you know, some ways

[21:56] to help with the expenses.

[21:58] There's, you know, solar, using solar panels, solar energy for the rank, there's marketing and sponsorship revenue that can be used, and quite honestly, you know, there is some level of frustration, you know, with this process, because, you know, there does seem to be some underlying cause of that it, it's just going to go to RFP.

[22:29] And I hope that's not the case because that would certainly be selling the kids out and just like, you know, John Niels and said, you know, just going to the highest bitter, that's like giving the rank away to, you know, to our greatest opponent in hockey, you know, we won't get that ice time.

[22:45] they can make all the promises in the world that they'll do right by who, you know, the, the bitter.

[22:53] But we won't, we won't see that and hockey, you know, the sharks, as we know, it would, would end as a league.

[23:01] So we just hope that the right people and, and the right minds put together to, to make a budget that works for Terry Conners,

[23:12] because the numbers just haven't been driving thus far.

[23:16] I know that there's still like $700,000 that Terry Conner hasn't seen it

[23:21] to start making their capital improvements.

[23:24] So I think it's extremely important that we are giving this rank

[23:29] to the community and not to the highest bidder.

[23:32] And let these kids just play hockey, figure skate, and do what they want to do,

[23:39] especially in these times.

[23:41] Thank you.

[23:42] Perfect.

[23:43] Thank you so much for your comments.

[23:46] We have, if we want to circle back, I did see it's actually under

[23:51] Angelov crew, not team Angelov.

[23:55] That's Fiona.

[24:00] I'm sorry.

[24:01] We're there.

[24:04] I'm not seeing maybe that person can raise their hand.

[24:10] Or using.

[24:10] They just come in and it looks like they just left.

[24:14] come in and out. Peter Hennessey, did Peter join us?

[24:20] I didn't see Peter either.

[24:26] Thomas, I'm going, okay, so if Peter Hennessey or Fiona,

[24:32] Angela, or Stephanie Kylie are listening in

[25:00] I think since there were only three people who signed up, who spoke last time, I'm going to make an executive decision here to allow each of them up to two minutes to speak.

[25:16] So, I think the first one was Nick Bergarra,

[25:22] and I'm looking for you Nick.

[25:28] If you are there, if you want to raise your hand, oh, there you are.

[25:32] I see you.

[25:34] Go ahead.

[25:35] We'll give you the floor.

[25:37] Thank you.

[25:38] Thank you for supporting us the time to speak again.

[25:41] The first topic that I want to bring up is the near $700,000 that is being held back on this.

[25:47] There's 200 from a lawsuit and the near $500,000 that was bonded, which the rank is paying

[25:54] principal and interest on.

[25:56] So it needs to be stricken from the operating budget and put into the special fund that the

[26:02] rank has been put in.

[26:03] This was put for the sole purpose of fixing infrastructure in the rank which needs to be done.

[26:08] That number based on the cap X, which you guys will go into, which has been blown out of

[26:17] proportion, will cover close to half if not a third of the cap X. Fixing the roof will

[26:25] allow for solar to come into play, which will knock out approximately 150 grand of utilities

[26:32] a year. Over 10 years, this would knock out the rest of the cap X budget.

[26:43] We're asking you guys to do the right things for the kids, and there's no reason to go

[26:48] to RFP. There are a lot of options that we're put forward and additional revenue streams

[26:53] available. We're just asking for accountability, honesty, and fairness. All things we teach

[26:58] our kids and look for in our politicians. We are conducting a community-gid-back program to

[27:05] this week and revitalize Scalzy Street hockey rink free of charge to the city. We have fundraised

[27:11] across the materials and offering our labor to bring this rink back to its glory and teaching

[27:16] our kids community service. We are also providing a public invitation to our public

[27:23] open weekend picnics Saturday October 10th to the members of this committee, Mayor Martin and

[27:30] board members to see what Terry Conners is to us in the city. Just how big is we thank you for

[27:38] your time and efforts and we want to make sure that this stays a service to Stanford and not

[27:44] so selling out our kids. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you very much Nick. Appreciate the

[27:51] Conners. Just make sure the picnic is defined by the executive order by this state to make sure

[27:56] we're not over the capacity on the number of people, please.

[28:01] Sorry, long term recovery officer, I gotta do my pay here.

[28:06] All right, we will circle back to Alex Andros.

[28:11] I think it might be just as Alex.

[28:12] I

[28:24] don't have an Alex Andros, I have Russia

[28:27] or I really need to be in the same list, sorry.

[28:30] Yeah, I didn't see Russia in there.

[28:34] I was looking at the Zoom name.

[28:35] Oh, okay.

[28:40] Raise your capisaurus.

[28:42] I apologize.

[28:44] This pronunciation.

[28:45] If you want to raise your hand,

[28:55] Rick Johnson.

[28:56] And then Rick Johnson.

[28:58] Is that Rick?

[28:59] Yes.

[29:00] Just Rick.

[29:06] I have Rocco in there somehow.

[29:11] Did you Rocco, did I see Rick?

[29:13] I was just that.

[29:16] That's Stephanie.

[29:17] Uh, can you, this is Rick.

[29:19] Can you hear me?

[29:19] We can. Shall I?

[29:23] We share some of your research.

[29:26] Some people have already covered some of the numbers, things that I researched from our last meeting,

[29:31] because I read an article that said the rate was losing $250,000 a year,

[29:37] and yet the chart that you provided in your material,

[29:40] that there was no year that it lost from 2009,

[29:43] $250,000. In fact, sometimes it made 100,000 over expenses.

[29:49] And then I saw the spike at the end going into 2020-21 where expenses go from 900,000 to 1,400,000.

[29:58] And I know there are some...

[30:01] Rick, we lost you here.

[30:26] Okay, Rick, unfortunately, we can't hear you. I'm going to bounce you out. What I would ask you to do is to just please send something in and writing to us on TCR committee at stampfordct.gov and we'd be happy to have you be a part of it.

[30:46] I wanted to open up our committee session and before we do that, I want to take a few minutes to say a few words and to try to frame how we got to where we are.

[31:01] The first thing I want to do on behalf of the committee is to thank everybody from the public who has participated in the.

[31:15] And we have absolutely heard you.

[31:19] We have had, I believe, over 150 emails written in,

[31:25] as well as numerous calls to the mayor's office.

[31:29] Laura?

[31:30] Yep.

[31:30] We had, sorry.

[31:31] It looks like Richia tried to raise her hand.

[31:36] OK, do I have any to stop?

[31:38] And if you don't mind, I want to just make

[31:40] your own video to get the chance to speak so far.

[31:42] OK, I have Rocco, is that who we're talking about?

[31:48] Raccoon, Lucia, and Rick, all right, I'm going to stop and turn it back to the speakers.

[31:58] This is Rick, I got, now.

[32:01] May I continue?

[32:03] Yes, please.

[32:03] And finish?

[32:05] Like, if we've all these money guys, if all these money guys are knocking on our door,

[32:09] then we know there's money to be made, right?

[32:12] Because the demand from ICE is increasing.

[32:14] Chelsea Pierce is about to go on.

[32:16] And the only thing that's keeping up a float right now is the ice.

[32:19] everything else is going very badly. They're left at Titanic. So my point is, then, why don't we manage this thing

[32:28] for profitability? If it made money in the past, for years and years and years and years and years, over expenses, it made revenue over expenses,

[32:35] somebody ought to call dean out in the Mexico, put his head together with Kenny, and put together some priorities.

[32:43] But let's manage it to profitability, just like we were the money guys. Let's look at it like they look at.

[32:48] And get through the money crunch over the next two, three years, and the capital expenditures,

[32:53] and manage this thing, and turn into a money maker for the city. It's so close. It's so close.

[33:00] And have them prioritize the capital expenditures. Those can be stretched out. It looks like you're

[33:04] jamming it all into one year, but it should be spread over five years. And a priority list,

[33:09] particularly with Dean who knows this thing so well, I reach out to him and can give him a

[33:16] still be a consultant on this project,

[33:18] put it together with the people who there are,

[33:20] or have their hands on the Greek right now,

[33:23] and put together a plant.

[33:25] And in terms of, in terms of Stanford $65 million money problems,

[33:29] I mean, this isn't like the Smith House, which was $6 million in debt.

[33:32] This is a couple million to get going here.

[33:34] And if we manage it like the money guys,

[33:37] we can make some money.

[33:38] And still keep it as a cornerstone of the community.

[33:41] My kids, all three of my kids took part in silhouettes,

[33:44] and that's not a tarry car.

[33:46] It can be managed to properly build.

[33:51] Thank you very much.

[33:53] Excellent.

[33:53] Thank you Rick.

[33:54] We do appreciate your comments.

[33:59] We do have one hand raised Laura.

[34:03] So I'm not sure it's Brian.

[34:05] That'll come down us.

[34:06] There we go.

[34:08] So that was Julia's.

[34:11] All right.

[34:13] Hi.

[34:14] Tom.

[34:15] Yes.

[34:15] Well, this is Dan's Monet, I have a text that is a capisaurus that was supposed to

[34:22] speak, but it's not the capisaurus, it's full of last time. And the rubber ends in 1425,

[34:29] just FYI. All right, sorry, I was trying to find that. But 1425, so it's a 646 number.

[34:37] I guess, yeah. I have the 1425, Brian, you've got the floor and then we will go to 145 next.

[35:03] But I am the mother of Julia who spoke to you earlier. We have been all of our ice skating dollars

[35:13] have gone to Terry Conner's, although we actually live in Riverside. And I did have an opportunity

[35:19] the summer to talk to the head of the Greenwich Parts and Director of Parts and Repping Greenwich

[35:27] about the idea of Stanford selling Terry Connors as Greenwich goes through the process of planning

[35:35] for rebuilding Dorothy Hamel. So, our town is committed to having a municipal ring just as I

[35:49] such a unique asset in this area, in that it is open year round. It has skating programs

[35:58] during the academic year as well as the summer camp programs, which my daughter has taken

[36:05] advantage of and all of those activities are subscribed to. It really is truly a unique asset

[36:17] And it's wonderful, but when I asked Joe about wooden municipality consider selling its ring, he just looked at me, he said,

[36:28] I'm shocked to hear that because if they intend to lease it out, you never get that asset back in the same condition that you let it go.

[36:37] So he was actually quite surprised that Stanford was considering that.

[36:43] The other thing, having had an opportunity to look at the management at both ranks, I know that people in

[36:51] Greenwich are envious of the team that manages Terry Conner's.

[36:57] Kenny has such a sterling reputation that I'm surprised that he's not part of the team that's helping to plan to take the ring forward,

[37:10] because he has just done such a fabulous job at managing what you have today.

[37:17] So I'm hoping that as time goes on in the story unfolds,

[37:23] you can get to the point where the city will look to maintain its asset,

[37:29] recognizing that it's truly unique in both the people that run it and the building and the facility itself.

[37:36] And I hope that the city of Stanford and its residents get to participate at the

[37:42] bring for years to come.

[37:44] Thank you.

[37:47] Excellent.

[37:47] Thank you very much.

[37:49] And we had a break.

[37:52] Ten is giving me the last four numbers again.

[37:54] I'm sorry.

[37:56] I'm my cursor.

[37:58] One, four, two, five.

[38:00] Got it.

[38:00] Okay.

[38:01] We're good.

[38:05] All right.

[38:06] Just got to come on mute.

[38:07] You're still on mute.

[38:08] work two, five, you're on if you unmute.

[38:10] There we go.

[38:11] Can you hear me?

[38:12] Can you hear me?

[38:14] Okay.

[38:14] Great.

[38:15] It's Rishia Candidate Capaciris.

[38:17] Not my husband, Alex.

[38:18] Different people.

[38:21] So a lot of people have yes spoken with regards to Terry Conner's

[38:25] Rink.

[38:25] I think you feel the love that we have.

[38:28] And you probably feel the frustration that we have too.

[38:31] Because we have been trying to do everything we can from all the point of view

[38:36] to help keep our rank where it should be in the shape

[38:40] that it should be meaning the communities rank.

[38:43] This municipal gem, we raise our rates, something.

[38:48] I'm present and we asked, we went to our members

[38:50] and then we went to the city and then we made these moves.

[38:54] That stretched us, we also knew that we had to do something

[38:57] to help with the situation that this rank

[39:01] finds itself in with the city.

[39:03] If it's all about revenue,

[39:05] because it really starts to seem like that's what it is, it's all about revenue.

[39:09] Well, there are plenty of revenue opportunities for Terry Connors without selling out the

[39:13] facility to a private entity. There's promoting based-side use, marketing for adult senior

[39:18] use, making improvements for use as an on and off-ice training facility, school field trips,

[39:24] the use of temporary boards for use as a type of convention center, other sporting events outside

[39:28] of hockey that use the ice, plenty of options, you simply have to want to do them.

[39:35] So, the city, I'm sorry, I don't feel has done its due diligence from an executive

[40:00] This was what they've been given, but when they haven't been given everything they need, they can only do so much.

[40:06] Every single building in this city eventually has to deal with capital projects, and yet the city struggles with dealing with the future planning of the capital projects, hence our public schools.

[40:20] They're in this array because no one did what was necessary for the capital issues that they are now dealing with.

[40:27] The public worker shouldn't be the scapegoats for bad decision-making.

[40:31] We've already discussed, for example, money that has been that was bonded that the

[40:35] strength is supposed to have to do work and they can't do the work because they don't

[40:39] have the money.

[40:41] Stanford is supposed to be the city that works and the city that works should make the community

[40:45] to bring work.

[40:47] If you privatize it, you are going to shut down a whole slew of people that love this

[40:52] that use this drink, that live in this drink as their second home,

[40:57] Stanford sharks of which I am now a part of.

[40:58] I am a track and field girl, Hockey was not my world at all,

[41:01] and I married a Canadian and now look at me.

[41:04] So this is what happens.

[41:07] And my son and my husband, and I love it out here,

[41:10] and my daughter's been a start.

[41:11] You privatize this drink.

[41:13] You're going to take away something that you're not going to be able to get back.

[41:17] Please don't do that.

[41:19] Please pay attention to some of the options

[41:21] that have been put on the table.

[41:23] And this committee needs to get serious about that.

[41:26] You've been in the inception since May,

[41:28] and this is only the second time that I'm aware of,

[41:31] that you guys are really getting together

[41:32] and you're still just listening to us rather than putting

[41:35] your heads together as well.

[41:37] I'm sorry, I sound frustrated because I am,

[41:41] because I don't want anything bad to happen

[41:43] with this range by privatization.

[41:45] We've heard what, let me finish.

[41:48] I think that'll do it, because my 40-year-old is basically

[41:51] is done with me. So thank you. And thank you.

[41:58] Thank you very much. And I have to say that as a Canadian is good choice in

[42:01] marrying the Canadian. So.

[42:04] All right, Laura, I think we're going to conclude the public comment section

[42:09] now as part of this. And we'll turn it back to our meeting.

[42:16] Okay. Thank you.

[42:20] As I was saying before we sort of interrupted, I just I want everybody to know that every member on this committee has heard you, the mayor has heard you.

[42:31] I believe all the board members have heard you have never had so many emails coming from board members saying why am I getting all of these emails.

[42:37] So for those of you who sometimes think that it's not worth the effort to write a letter or just speak, I just wanted to tell you that it definitely is.

[42:48] I want to just go backwards a little bit in time and tell you sort of how did we get to this committee and what's going on.

[42:56] As part of the fiscal 2021 budget, the mayor asked that the drink be moved into a special revenue fund.

[43:05] And that's not unusual.

[43:07] The golf course is in a special revenue fund.

[43:10] It allows us to match the revenues and expenses and to really see what's going on with the rank.

[43:17] And when that was done, however, for budgetary purposes and sometimes budget is how the city looks at things on its books.

[43:25] but it may not be the reality of the operating condition

[43:28] of the rank.

[43:29] The budget showed an operating loss of half a million dollars.

[43:34] So throughout the budget process,

[43:37] which I'm sure you can all appreciate

[43:38] have been under a country that was just starting

[43:41] to feel the impact of COVID,

[43:44] there was a lot of concern about tax revenues coming in

[43:48] and just how the city was going to function

[43:50] under a COVID environment.

[43:54] The boards as they reviewed it in particular the board of finance as a city to explore options with respect to Terry Conner's drink because there was a on the on the books a large operating loss.

[44:09] So the mayor at that point looked at it and asked for a committee to be formed.

[44:14] And I'm going to quote from the mayor's press release.

[44:18] He said was that it was to ensure that Terry Conner's rank remains in service and financially

[44:23] solving for the foreseeable future.

[44:26] The committee will consider and discuss a variety of options and prepare an RFP for potential

[44:31] partnerships with rank operators or nonprofits to ensure that TCR stays operational.

[44:38] I just want to be clear, it was not the intention of the mayor for the rank to be privatized.

[44:46] I think he knew that the rank at its current rates was not able to support itself,

[44:54] and he wanted to create a mechanism where we could look at the operations of the rank.

[45:00] hugely helpful towards addressing the problem. And in addition to that, as we went through, although we haven't met formally as a committee, we have worked behind the scenes, individually and sometimes in pairs or triplicates to try to look at the numbers in the that were sent as part of the budget and to really assess what is the operating condition of the rank as opposed to the budget.

[45:30] condition of the rank. And we have pulled out some ongoing pension expenses that are really

[45:37] the city's obligations, they're associated with the rank because they were incurred as part

[45:41] of the rank operations. But really from an operating state, you know, the rank, we felt that they

[45:48] should be removed. We took a look at the insurance, the city buys, the city ensures the rank

[45:54] through its overall umbrella.

[45:58] And so there is an allocation associated with the rank.

[46:01] The allocation this year was high, which happens to be because

[46:05] of a settlement, which for an unfortunate accident

[46:08] that happened at the rank.

[46:10] And it was not really reflective.

[46:11] We felt of other area ranks and what the insurance

[46:15] had caused so we adjusted that down.

[46:18] And then we also took a look at the capital expenditures

[46:21] for the rank. And we were, I think the original number given to the Board of Finance was $6 million.

[46:29] It's down to $3 million. And I think, you know, I for one agreed that we need to sharpen our

[46:36] pencils on it. Part of the problem is that some of these expenses are out in the future. And in

[46:41] order to get real numbers, you really have to have drawings and go out to bid to do these projects

[46:46] which we don't have. So their estimates based on knowledge of our engineering department has,

[46:52] but they are in no way shape or form of fine, too. So where are we in terms of the conclusions

[47:00] of where we've come to? And I think that we have a few things that are impacting this drink.

[47:07] Number one, COVID-19 clearly has impacted operations. We are not really able to operate the

[47:13] the way that we would in an on COVID environment. That's something that we have to live with and all of the

[47:20] assumptions and the discussions that we've had internally have never focused on a decision being made

[47:27] for the rank around COVID. So I just want to make it clear we're operating in COVID but we're assuming

[47:31] that we're going back to a normal operating situation. We also feel and we appreciate a lot of the

[47:43] operated the rink and we need to look at our rink operations and see if there are ways that we can improve our performance of how we do.

[47:53] But I think the reality here is that over time there are significant capital needs for the right.

[47:59] There are some immediate concern, some immediate expenditures.

[48:03] We have a roof that needs to be replaced.

[48:05] I know solar's been brought up.

[48:07] We are definitely looking at solar, but understand that in order to put a solar roof on Terry Connors Creek,

[48:12] we may have to do some structural improvements to the roof,

[48:15] and there is a cost to putting that roof on,

[48:18] it is not free.

[48:19] So while there are savings, you can pay for,

[48:23] there's a capital cost associated with the solar.

[48:26] And then finally, as we all know,

[48:29] the rank floor was not put in properly,

[48:32] there is a $200,000 settlement associated with that,

[48:36] but at some point, we've put it out 10 years from now,

[48:39] but at some point we are going to have to replace that floor,

[48:42] and it would be prudent management practices to reserve to replace that floor.

[48:48] I want to address the capital because it was brought up to $700,000.

[48:53] There was $471,000 of bonded money.

[48:57] And the city in its numbers gave, it's charging the rank interest and principle on 300 of the 471,000.

[49:07] the 171,000 is an essence gifted to the rank as part of the transfer into the revenue fund.

[49:14] So the city will not be charting interest on that money and that money would be available if

[49:19] the rank you do is operations the full 471,000 would be available to the rank.

[49:28] I think some of the recommendations that have come up are having the committee actively work with

[50:00] Creating a not for profit like November, or an authority like the golf authority, increasing

[50:05] some non-resident rates. Unfortunately, 91% of our revenue comes from residents, so it doesn't

[50:11] have as big an impact as we would like it to. Adding some amenities to the facility and improving

[50:18] marketing, updating our Facebook page, adding more tournaments and competitions, and we feel

[50:25] all of these are excellent, excellent ideas,

[50:30] but I'd like to, you know, in sort of all of the discussions

[50:34] that we've had with both the Board of Representatives and the numbers that we've had. I think we're

[50:40] hearing loud and clear and I'd like my colleagues to weigh on this, but we're hearing loud and clear

[50:44] from the community that this is an asset worth keeping as part of the city. And I'd like to sort of

[50:55] perhaps we can work with the groups who are speaking tonight and the skating groups and chart

[51:01] a different future for the rank where there is some sharing of the expenses that are going

[51:08] to have to go into the rank for the future. These capital expenditures that can be financed

[51:14] but have to be paid back to the city. So what does that mean that maybe means some great

[51:19] increases, coming along down the pike, nothing that is throwing extra cash flow to the city,

[51:27] but really rate increases that are allowing us to put the rink on a footing where there's

[51:32] a capital reserve and that we can borrow as little as we have to do to keep the capital

[51:37] expenditures in the rank and preserve the asset. And what I'd like to propose is that perhaps we

[51:43] back to the Board of Finance who was looking at numbers that at the time were presented through

[51:52] the budget, but we've now come to learn might be a little bit heavy-handed and to show them

[51:59] with the combination of the rated creases and the elimination of some of those expenses that

[52:07] there is a pathway to keep the ring in the city's hands and ask if they would give us some time

[52:13] to work with the various groups and to try to set the rank on a good course of the future.

[52:22] So with that, I'm going to open it up to my committee for their thoughts on that type of

[52:30] proposal where we would work with the groups that use the rank to try to get some

[52:36] increases over time, reasonable rate increases not heavy handed. And go back to the Board of

[52:42] Finance and ask for a little bit more time for a business plan to keep the ring in the city's hands.

[52:49] Laura, can you hear me? Yes, we can. With apologies to the rest of the committee. This is David

[52:55] Manus. I just wanted to apologize to everybody. I am on the call. I can hear all of you and have

[53:03] but I cannot join by video. So I just wanted people to know that yes I am here and I've heard

[53:11] every word so I'll be back in the conversation.

[53:17] And I believe that Jan Williams is on via telephones

[53:20] that she is listening in as well.

[53:25] Any dentists you've got your hand up would you like to open up

[53:28] the dialogue. Thank you, Laura. So just a couple of observations from my perspective, I want to thank

[53:38] all the residents and users of Kerry Conner's that are spoken over the last couple of meetings.

[53:45] From my perspective, and I'm the designated representative from the Board of Representatives,

[53:51] sitting on this task force, it's clear to me and I think it's clear to a lot of my colleagues

[53:58] on the board of reps that your voices have been heard loud and clear, and we were faced

[54:05] with a deficit at the rank earlier this year, and it was the user group seeking back and

[54:13] proposed the 30% increase in the fees, and that's the advice to me and a lot of my colleagues,

[54:21] you know, truly the commitment that you have to this rank, additionally what some of the

[54:26] to doing out at Scalzy Park now, you know, for the reinforces that commitment and, and I think

[54:33] that's something to be, you know, nurturing cherished and encouraged and, and certainly from

[55:00] We don't have to rush into anything, so I know that we have capital challenges over the long run.

[55:06] I think we can get to solutions that keep the rank in our hands. I appreciate what Laura you have done.

[55:12] Not only here with this task force, but also meeting over several months with the Board of Reps, Parts and Reckon Committee, which I share, and your efforts on behalf of the rank at those meetings.

[55:27] And I do believe that we can solve this, you know, without drawing any conclusions, I believe that it can be solved without

[55:36] privatizing this wonderful asset and the amenity that it is to our residents.

[55:42] And it's my impression that the city goes back to the board of finance and walks through the progress

[55:49] that we all have made over the last several months.

[55:53] You know, and there has been some real progress, you know,

[55:57] hopeful that the bear can convince or lower you,

[56:00] can convince the board of finance, you know,

[56:03] maybe to put into bans this request to go out to market and put it on hold.

[56:09] And I do agree that this dialogue right between the city and

[56:14] and the board of reps and the major users and that

[56:18] very specifically the board of finance,

[56:20] which is where this whole initiative came from to privatize.

[56:26] I think that, you know, I think we're in a good place.

[56:29] And we do have the benefit of time given where the budget is,

[56:33] but we do have capital issues.

[56:36] But those are a little bit out in the horizon.

[56:38] And so I do think we have some time here to take a breath,

[56:43] go back to the Board of Finance,

[56:45] And think through what the best answer is for, you know, all of the parties, all of the stakeholders here.

[56:56] And so I'm encouraged by all of this dialogue, and I'm certainly encouraged by the input that the public is given.

[57:02] And, you know, I appreciate it. And that's it. Thank you.

[57:09] So should I take my turn, Laura?

[57:12] Please.

[57:13] Okay.

[57:14] So this is David Manis again.

[57:15] And I am on the border finance.

[57:17] So when we talked about going back,

[57:19] I feel like I'm coming around the corner to myself.

[57:23] But maybe I should put it this way.

[57:28] If this topic does come back to the border finance,

[57:31] I, for one, will be looking at a, at the rank differently than I did the first time,

[57:44] principally for the reasons that Laura laid out.

[57:48] The numbers are not now what were depicted then, in addition to which Dennis pointed out,

[57:58] the skating groups proactively came forward and volunteered to spend more money.

[58:07] So I see a rank that's very close to breaking even on its operating obligations.

[58:14] We have this topic of what to do about the capital challenges that every building faces sooner or later.

[58:23] And about against that, we have, I've got to say, a group of people who are served by the

[58:36] rank who seem to really love it. And to me, that is the mark of a municipal facility or a

[58:52] I think it's clear to me that for a lot of people, this is a very, very special

[59:01] amenity that Stanford is offering.

[59:06] So, I'm looking forward to some good conversation directly with the

[59:22] I think everyone's sense that sort of later we would do that and I would, I hope it soon.

[59:30] The only other thing I want to say is that the border finance relates to things in terms of budget and cost.

[59:41] So the decision we took was to put a limit or a deadline on funding for the rank.

[59:54] I think that the board members move.

[1:00:00] I would say it's not for us to say whether there should be an RFP or not, but what I know the Board of Finance is looking for is a plan for the rank to be solvent and whether it's city owners that are not, I would say, not our prime concern.

[1:00:24] So, I know which is to say either either outcome,

[1:00:29] so long as there's solitude, I think we'll be

[1:00:32] pleasing to the board. I certainly hope so. Thank you.

[1:00:39] Thank you, David. Anyone else want to speak?

[1:00:49] Jen, if you wanted to speak, I, you could unmute your phone.

[1:00:53] So, when I see that, we'll know you're, you have something to say.

[1:00:58] Um,

[1:01:03] if nobody else from the committee wants to, um, to say anything, I guess, um, I would ask, um,

[1:01:13] yep.

[1:01:13] We did have one, one child who missed his hockey practice and he didn't get a chance to speak.

[1:01:20] He wasn't on the list.

[1:01:21] He's got to be on it. So who is it?

[1:01:24] It was a Rocco, Nuchia, if I don't know if Stephanie is still on, but he wasn't on that list, so

[1:01:34] Okay, is someone for the opportunity to speak?

[1:01:36] If Rocco or Stephanie can raise your hand or send us in the chat the last four digits of your phone number, we will let you in.

[1:01:50] And I don't want to feel like the missile hockey practice, so.

[1:01:54] Well, Laura, maybe I don't know what else is on the agenda per se, but can we talk about

[1:02:02] next steps?

[1:02:04] I think we're on the phone listening, rather.

[1:02:07] Right.

[1:02:08] Now, I think from my standpoint, I can delve into numbers a little bit or not, but the

[1:02:21] The rank with the increases that were generously offered by the Skating Groups this year, again not, we're throwing COVID out the door for purposes of our analysis. This year, if we were operating in a normal environment, we would be breaking even making a small approximately $50,000 profit at the end of the year after debt service and all its all to get all the ring obligations.

[1:02:50] So the challenge, we know over time some of the operating expenses will increase, so you know that number would go down if we didn't have rating increases.

[1:03:01] But the challenge is really when we start getting into the roof and later on sort of building reserves for a rank floor.

[1:03:10] We have to have money coming in some way shape or form from revenue or operating savings in order to cover those.

[1:03:21] So, I think what I would like to propose as our next step is the date of the exception of you and I know you've spent a lot of time with me going over numbers.

[1:03:32] But I'd like to have as an extent go to the board of finance and walk through, again, all of the work that we've done on the rank with the numbers.

[1:03:47] I'd like to reiterate to them the amount of public support that there's been.

[1:03:52] Although I think most of the letters have copied the board of finance members, as well as so they have seen it firsthand.

[1:03:59] And see, get some direction from them as to which way we want to do, which way they want

[1:04:05] us to go.

[1:04:06] And then come back and reconvene as a committee to talk about what our next steps are.

[1:04:13] So if I can just ask for a show of support for those steps or if anybody before I do that,

[1:04:18] if does anyone feel that there are more steps that we should do before the Board of

[1:04:21] Announce.

[1:04:23] I think one of the things we should look at, you know, as I said, we go through the numbers

[1:04:27] is we need to really touch on the operational side of how the drink is operating, and because

[1:04:33] that's going to really influence the numbers over the next couple of years, because if we are

[1:04:37] talking about increasing, I think you heard from the public very adamantly, you know, if the cost,

[1:05:00] Where the costs were not out, you know, basically pricing out the people that use this rank, typically municipal ranks are at a much lower rate, you know, when I was talking with my father who has run ranks builds ranks and everything else in Canada, when I told him that, you know, the price of ice was almost $400 an hour, he sort of spit out his coffee, he has typically, you know, most ranks are coming in around 200 to $250 an hour.

[1:05:25] And so I think in terms of, we need to do sort of that full evaluation,

[1:05:31] legally on how this rank has been operated on every aspect of this.

[1:05:37] Thank you for that.

[1:05:40] Anybody else?

[1:05:42] Before, I also, I'm sorry, Jen's going to.

[1:05:45] Yeah, I certainly concur with what Thomas says about the

[1:05:57] I know we've spent a few months on this over the last few months to raise the rates and we've talked

[1:06:06] up perfectly about some of the expenses and I do know there's an appetite on the partner at

[1:06:12] committee of the board reps to go back in and scrub those operating numbers a little bit more.

[1:06:16] So I would concur that it's a good opportunity now and we've kind of seen our way through the

[1:06:24] into an opening to focus in on somebody or a profit and loss

[1:06:28] side of it, so we know what we're really dealing with this far as,

[1:06:33] you know, potential revenue increases, but also, you know,

[1:06:36] some of the operating costs as well.

[1:06:40] Let me just, let me just add to the right order of those

[1:06:47] things is to scrub first and approach the board to find the

[1:06:54] Well, wait a minute, I don't know if that makes total sense. It's not going to get onto

[1:07:02] the Order of Refsigenda probably until November. And right now, Laura, you can go to

[1:07:12] the board of finance and speak to the fact that what was presented earlier in the year with

[1:07:18] half a million dollar deficit, no longer exists.

[1:07:23] And it was that half a million dollar deficit

[1:07:25] that drove this effort to find a private group.

[1:07:29] That deficit no longer exists.

[1:07:32] We have to script numbers, but that's not the major point.

[1:07:39] The major point was we've avoided now.

[1:07:41] That deficit we have shown that a couple hundred thousand dollars

[1:07:44] of expenses should not have been in the PNL.

[1:07:47] We have shown that the revenues were increased.

[1:07:50] I think that Board of Direction, a Board of Financial,

[1:07:53] now that sooner, to scrub numbers with the city

[1:07:56] and look at revenue projections and potential to increase them.

[1:08:01] That's not a something that we're going to do

[1:08:04] and then come back to the Board of Finance.

[1:08:05] That's going to be a process that's going to happen over several months.

[1:08:10] And so given the timing of what the Board of Finance did relative to equal 30th

[1:08:16] March 30th, whatever the 9 months was, I think it's more prudent to go back now and

[1:08:22] and inform them that we are and in the task force and in the Board of Reps continuing to look at those numbers.

[1:08:30] I just want to add, because I've spent too much time with the numbers.

[1:08:35] They've been scrubbed pretty hard. I mean, we can argue whether the way that the city accounts for things

[1:08:42] allocates things as right or wrong compared to what a private owner might do. But the city does

[1:08:49] have certain cost and expenses. Our labor costs are high and our benefit costs are high.

[1:08:58] These are things that are real and if a independent operator were running the rank,

[1:09:04] they would not be subject to the same collective bargaining agreements that we are.

[1:09:09] And their labor costs probably would be less.

[1:09:13] We can go through sort of item by item.

[1:09:16] But I think without shifts in the operate,

[1:09:20] the way that we operate, we're really not going to be able

[1:09:25] to save money on the city side over what we have.

[1:09:31] And I'm happy to discuss any number on the table.

[1:10:00] Members of the rank. Where I'm less comfortable is the future capital expenditures. I think we've identified the items that we're aware of. We just really are in a bit of a ballpark on the estimates of the cost because we haven't bid them yet. I'm not really sure going through the process again is going to yield a significant change. I think we have had a seismic change with the rate increase.

[1:10:27] And I think that it is worth going back and having the discussion worst case support can send us back again to scrub numbers or to go through committees or whatnot.

[1:10:41] I do think it's a good time to get on agendas if we can.

[1:10:56] David, since you're our board of finance member are you comfortable with us putting ourselves on your agenda for the next available time.

[1:11:05] For me, this member of the group, yeah, I mean, sure, I think, throughout this process, I've tried to put forward the idea that it's a small number in this conversation is always better than a big number, but what's really important is that we have confidence in the numbers.

[1:11:31] So if you say that they looked at carefully,

[1:11:38] that of course, then let's have that conversation,

[1:11:43] is I think everybody involved, including the people

[1:11:50] who use the rank and support the rank,

[1:11:52] what I have of degree of confidence that the numbers

[1:11:56] we're talking about are real.

[1:11:58] And I, for one, feel that the work that the city's done has got a long way to making them real.

[1:12:06] So, yeah.

[1:12:10] One thing before we vote to move forward to the Board of Finance,

[1:12:13] I just wanted to point out, one of the speakers had said that Ken Smith should be involved in the process.

[1:12:20] And I want to thank Ken and Laura Bono because without them we would not have gotten where we are.

[1:12:26] we have worked, I have worked very collaboratively with both of them and they have been extremely

[1:12:32] forthcoming. They've offered four great suggestions and been extraordinarily helpful

[1:12:39] and very passionate also about the ring. So I just want to thank both of them and want the

[1:12:45] public to know that they are there fighting for you and are big big fans of Terry Contersrank

[1:12:53] and it's staying in city's hands.

[1:12:56] So I guess I'd just ask everybody by way of vote.

[1:13:00] Can we move forward to the Board of Finance

[1:13:03] at its next available meeting?

[1:13:06] I'll just call out because we're in a Zoom

[1:13:09] and it's a little difficult to raise hands.

[1:13:12] Chris, are you on board with that?

[1:13:14] Crystal Sabah?

[1:13:20] Yes, I have on mute, sorry, I have on board with that.

[1:13:24] Thank you, Tom's men.

[1:13:27] Yes, I'm on board with that.

[1:13:28] Dennis Mahoney. I think that's a good idea. I'm going to skip over Catherine Emmett because technically she's not on the committee, but I appreciate very much for being here David Manis. Yes, and Jan, I think, what does it tell me to store six to unmute.

[1:13:43] Correct.

[1:13:44] get you down mute.

[1:13:58] Okay? We are not. The phones are sometimes challenging on a Zoom call,

[1:14:03] but I'm going to assume text me if you have a no or a yes and we're going to assume

[1:14:11] that you're a yes and so with that, once again, thank you everybody. I know two meetings.

[1:14:19] I know nighttime meetings is never a good time to plan meeting. We're all doing the best that we can.

[1:14:24] but thank you all very much for participating,

[1:14:27] and for all of your support of the rank and the process.

[1:14:32] And I have, I think, now 160 email addresses.

[1:14:37] So I will continue to keep you posted.

[1:14:40] We are posting on the SageWeb site.

[1:14:42] It's a little bit challenging sometimes to find these things,

[1:14:46] but we will continue to post on the web.

TCR Meeting

Agenda

Transcript