Council Cuts Englewood Arena Repair Costs

The city council amended its $2.7 million bond ordinance for capital improvements to the Overpeck Creek retaining wall and John T. Wright Arena Tuesday night, making cuts to some of the proposed improvements to the ice rink.

The ordinance was introduced after debate two weeks ago, in which members of the council expressed reservations about the pairing of the two projects in one ordinance, as well as concerns about the costs of interior improvements to the arena damaged during Superstorm Sandy.

Councilman Eugene Skurnick, a vocal critic of the proposed improvements to the arena, put forth a motion to separate the $1,995,000 in bonds for the retaining wall and $779,000 in bonds for the arena into two separate ordinances.

The motion passed unanimously over the objections of Mayor Frank Huttle, who argued that two separate bond issues would cost taxpayers money in legal fees.

According to Skurnick, while the council supported the retaining wall repairs, it “never meant to endorse putting tons of money into the ice rink.”

“I do not believe we need to bond at all for anything but the roof,” he added.

Proponents of the proposed improvements to the arena called the money necessary in maintaining a $25,000 lease and $450 an hour rental charges that will pump money into city recreation programs.

Councilmember Lynne Algrant countered criticism that the arena’s limited use as for ice skating and hockey programs represented a waste of taxpayer resources, pointing out that while outside programs can rent the arena for $450 an hour, “quality programming” can be done for $250-300 an hour.

“A lot of programming can be funded by the dreaded ice time, and that programming doesn’t have to be on ice,” she said.

The arena will be leased and operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Garfield, under the condition that net income generated by the arena will go toward developing youth recreation programs for Englewood residents.

“This is a very unique lease in which the income from the operations go directly into youth programs to make those youth programs more sustainable,” Huttle said.

Other council members agreed that the capital improvements to the arena could help spur recreation programs around the city.

“The only way you get other kinds of programming is to get other kinds of money,” Councilmember Michael Cohen said, adding that improvements to the arena will attract revenue to help the new nonprofit lessee develop recreation activities.

But the council had agreed in introducing the ordinance two weeks ago to review line item improvements and consider amending the ordinance to reduce the amount of the bond issue.

“We need to draw the line on what expenditures are necessary for the rink to function, and what items are extraneous and not required for the rink to function,” Cohen said as the council reviewed the specifics of the project Tuesday.

While unanimous agreement existed on repairs to the storm-damaged roof, the estimated total of which now stands at $570,000 and will be paid in part by insurance money, the council debated interior improvements to the arena such as upgrades to its refrigeration system, new snack bar equipment, and bleacher replacements.

The original estimate of $1.1 million had already been reduced to $944,000 by the time of Tuesday’s meeting, due to a reduced estimate for the roof, insurance coverage for netting around the arena’s perimeter, and a resident contribution.

Two weeks ago resident Phillip Vogel offered to donate repairs to the sound system and scoreboard.

Line item cuts Tuesday night totaled an additional $80,000. In the amended ordinance, bleacher replacements were cut by $20,000, which according to city engineer Kenneth Albert will mean reduced seating capacity but no changes in the safety compliance.

The council also amended the ordinance to cut refrigeration upgrades, meant to give arena operators greater monitoring and control over the temperature of the ice, from $70,000 to $50,000, and proposed snack bar equipment purchases from $45,000 to $15,000.

The council voted to introduce the amended ordinance, with Skurnick casting the lone dissenting vote.

But Councilmember Wayne Hamer added that although supporting the ordinance’s introduction, he would like to see greater detail and accountability on future recreation program development, and that the plan may not go far enough to hold his support in a vote for adoption.

“I still think that we’re playing small ball,” he said.

The total bond authorization of just over $2 million would not necessarily mean that the city spends that amount. According to state law, municipalities must have cash on hand to accept bids, and any money leftover from the bond issue will be returned.

A public hearing on both bond ordinances will be held Feb. 26, where the council will vote on the spending plans.

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