Ice rink awaits funding

Carson City's Arlington Square Ice Skating Rink has moved one step closer to opening Nov. 27 for a second season.

The Board of Supervisors voted Thursday, with Pete Livermore opposing, to direct the Parks and Recreation Department to prepare an application for funding from the Redevelopment Authority.

The funding would cover the projected $135,000 shortfall to install and operate the rink during the 2009-10 season. The rink is expected to cost $262,000, with revenues of only $127,000.

The city's Office of Business Development (OBD) operated the rink last year at Arlington Square on Carson Street across from the Carson Nugget.

The city now proposes that the OBD continue with the promotion, marketing and sponsorship recruitment for the rink, but that the Parks and Recreation Department take over management of the operations as well as vendor contracts.

Parks and Recreation Director Roger Mollendorf explained to the board why the marriage of the two departments would work.

"We believe this is a viable recreation opportunity - there are not many outdoor activities during the winter, and it's one of the few that are family-oriented," Mollendorf said. "We tend to segregate activities into youth, adults and seniors, and this brings all the populations together. But we are not economic development experts."

The goals for the rink, Mollendorf said, were to provide an economic stimulus to downtown business during a slow time of year and to create a winter recreational activity for Carson residents.

"(This) recreation is a quality of life measure we've not been able to offer Carson City residents in the past, and it provides a downtown attraction," he said.

But Supervisor Pete Livermore, who also sits on the Parks and Recreation Commission, said he does not believe the rink stimulated Carson City's economy.

"I have a letter from Clark Russell (Carson Station owner), and I have yet to have one business owner say how they've benefitted from that rink," Livermore said.

Supervisor Molly Walt cited several examples of how the city had benefitted from the rink.

She said she received a phone call Thursday morning from a woman who said that, had it not been for the ice rink, she would not have known about a candle shop downtown.

"Did she go to the shop that night? No, she didn't, but she went back three different times to buy gifts there," Walt said.

Walt also told a story she heard from one of her students while teaching school this week.

A group of girls had to choose on a Friday night between going to a party in Dayton or going to the ice rink. They chose the rink, Walt said.

"And what happened? There was a shooting at that party," she said.

"We are bringing activities for the youth and families, and as a community, that's what we need to be investing in," Walt said.

Scott Dorr, owner of B'Sghetti's, said he saw a 10 percent increase in his business last December over the previous year.

"I'm a business person, so I understand budgets," Dorr said, "but I think there is no better location in a place where everyone can see it."

Jim Smolenski, president of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, and also a member of the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission, said he was there to provide a unified voice for chamber members.

He said he called a number of people in the Downtown Business Association, and the majority were not in favor of the rink. He cited parking issues, the "construction zone" appearance of the rink, no noticeable increase in sales, and above all, the money used for the rink might be better spent on downtown infrastructure.

"Is this the smartest endeavor in these economic times?" he said.

As an avid skater, however, Smolenski said he "spent a lot of time at the rink last year" and added that the city might be better off to buy its own rink - a one-time investment of $230,000.

"The chamber is behind the rink (for) quality of life, but it objects to the location, and a subsidy could be spent better elsewhere," he said.

John Butler of Firkin & Fox said their business "saw increased foot traffic" and he knew the patrons were from the rink because they were wearing their wrist bands.

Resident Chet Alexander called the ice rink "a waste of money" and said he would rather see dollars go toward more hours of operation for the library.

Supervisor Robin Williamson, also chairman of the Redevelopment Authority, said the ice rink provided 30-35 jobs for people at a tough time of year and "gave Carson City a sense of itself."

She called the venture "smart and innovative" and said it was a "positive experience filled with music, lighting, food and laughter."

Livermore said, however, that he represented many residents who oppose the rink for various reasons, and he called the action "a parks and recreation rescue."

Mayor Bob Crowell said the ice rink was a legitimate redevelopment expense and was "spot on" in fitting redevelopment criteria.

Mollendorf is expected to bring the application requesting redevelopment funds to the board's Sept. 17 meeting.