Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Agreement with Saint Paul Capitals Hockey Association for Ice Rental
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Recommendation
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1. Approve agreement with Saint Paul Capitals Hockey Association, PO Box 16382, Saint Paul, MN 55116 for:
a. Ice rental upon execution of the agreement through April 1, 2030, with an option to have one five-year renewal term through April 1, 2035, with rates established in by the County Board of Commissioners.
b. Capital payments totaling $50,000 for facility improvements.
2. Authorize the Chair and the Chief Clerk to approve the agreement.
3. Authorize the County Manager to establish a project budget for facility improvement for Highland Arena.
4. Authorize the County Manager to approve other minor improvements to the interior or exterior of ice arenas as requested by the Saint Paul Capitals Youth Hockey Association at their sole financial responsibility.
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Background and Rationale
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An agreement has been negotiated with the Saint Paul Capitals Hockey Association for use of a minimum of 1,000 hours of ice at hours at Charles M Schulz - Highland Ice Arena and other county arenas. The St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association (SPCHA) is “a non-profit, volunteer-driven community built around a common respect for the game of hockey, strives to consistently develop players, teams, and coaches to their full potential in a fun and safe environment. SPCHA members embrace competitive play, teamwork, and sportsmanship.”
The $50,000 capital contribution will be used for facility improvements at Highland Ice Arena, the main arena where members skate. Per the agreement, the capital contribution will be paid in installments, with the first $10,000 due upon the execution of this agreement and $10,000 per year over the next four years of this agreement.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
SPCHA has a dedicated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director (DEI) Director who leads efforts to create a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all players and families. Some examples of this are requiring every association family to commit to the “Words Matter Pledge” during registration, which reinforces the values of SPCHA around respectful communication. Each team also begins the season with a meeting on conduct and fair play. DEI initiatives are actively supported by training, communication, and accountability across all levels of the organization. SPCHA proactively reaches out to underserved communities with the help of Minnesota Hockey who, in January 2024, expanded the SPCHA's boundaries to include St. Paul's West Side and West End neighborhoods. SPCHA has taken steps to connect with these communities, including translating our marketing materials into Spanish and participating in cultural events like Cinco de Mayo to build awareness and engagement. The association also invested in growing the girls hockey program through a successful Co-op with West St. Paul. SPCHA is focused on making hockey affordable and scholarships are awarded to all eligible applicants.
SPCHA rents ice hours primarily at Highland Arena and also at Pleasant and West Side Ice Arenas. Having an anchor tenant such as SPCHA at Highland Ice Arena helps to provide the majority of resources needed to fund the annual operations of the arena. Parks & Recreation can then focus on offering additional programming to under-served residents such as learn-to-skate programming, and free and open skating programs. Revenue generated that exceeds operational budget targets may be utilized to support additional outreach programming across the department such as activities in the parks like archery, biking, fishing and more.
Community Participation Level and Impact
County residents make up the majority of the membership of the SPCHA. Ice rental agreements offer organizations more value for their money while also taking care of a community asset.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This agreement will provide revenue to Highland Ice Arena, and other county arenas, to help support and maintain operations of the facilities. It is estimated that the annual revenue generated from this agreement will be $241,500. As previously stated, the $50,000 capital contribution generated from this agreement will be utilized at Highland Ice Arena to address building improvements that benefit the county and SPCHA. The yearly revenue is included in the 2025 through 2027 operating budgets.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Ice Rental Agreement