Council’s big serve an ace for club

Decision ‘befuddles’ facility owner
By BOB BRUTON Barrie Examiner February 8 2011
Game, set and match.
Lennox Park will get domed tennis courts, and the Barrie Community Tennis Club can spend its $400,000 infrastructure grant.
City council gave final approval to the project Monday for four courts at the former Huronia Park South.
“The bottom line is they are not asking for a cent of city money,” said Coun. Barry Ward. “It’s hard to say no to them.”
“In my opinion, the rewards are far greater than the risks involved in this project,” said Coun. Bonnie Ainsworth.
Tennis club president Ray Demiray noted council approval came long after BCTC had its grant approved.
“It has been a long and grueling process since our application almost two years ago for a federal/provincial RInC grant to provide this facility to residents of Barrie,” he said. “We know that the nation is concerned about fitness and obesity levels in the Canadian population, and the more fitness and recreation facilities there are, the more we can all work together to reduce this concern.”
Only Mayor Jeff Lehman and Coun. John Brassard voted against the project. Coun. Michael Prowse was absent Monday, although he has spoken against the project in the past.
Lehman questioned whether the demand for winter tennis facilities existed, and if infrastructure money should be used to compete against an existing private business — Barrie North Winter Tennis in Midhurst.
“I can certainly understand the great reluctance to say no to a grant,” he said. “We hope the (council) motion is air-tight and no costs will come back to the citizens of Barrie.”
Coun. John Brassard asked for regular reports on this project, and its finances, as it proceeds. Council agreed on reports every three months and then annually.
“My gut tells me, at some point, the BCTC will figure out that they are way over their head on this,” he said.
“My gut also tells me that, at some point, Barrie taxpayers will be asked to foot the bill. I don’t want to be blind-sided. I think it’s important that we stay right on top of this.”
But Coun. Brian Jackson, who represents this part of Barrie, said residents there don’t have a problem with a dome — although they don’t want to lose the basketball court.
And he re-iterated it can’t cost city taxpayers.
“There won’t be one member of council approving money to them (BCTC),” he said.
The tennis club has also received support from the Ontario Tennis Association for its plans for domed courts.
“It is one of the most comprehensive business plans I have read,” said association president Michel Lecavalier, in an e-mail to Barrie councillors. “More importantly, it is more than just a plan.”
Lecavalier said the number of people playing tennis has increased by 20% during the past three years, and that, if more facilities were available, 29% would play tennis more often in winter. These numbers come from a participation study commissioned by Tennis Canada in 2010.
John Wellar, one of the owners of Barrie North Winter Tennis, located just north of the city on Springwater Township’s Highway 26/27, has said there are too many unanswered questions about the BCTC proposal, including its finances.
“I think it is irresponsible to approve a project with this business plan,” he said.
Wellar also said there are not enough tennis players who will play during the winter for two domes — one in south-Barrie and another in Midhurst.
“The numbers aren’t there, they really aren’t,” he said.
Wellar called the Lennox Park project “subsidized tennis” because of the RInC grant.
“I don’t think anyone on council would like to see government money spent in opposition to their business,” he said. “There is no doubt I am worried about my business. It is my job. I made a huge commitment.
“This project certainly jeopardizes my business, my livelihood and everything I have.”
Demiray says the capital costs for the Lennox Park project will be $600,000, and that he has financing in place for the additional $200,000. City staff have estimated this cost at more than $800,000, however.
“It befuddles me how it (the city staff report) gets ignored,” Wellar said.
BCTC would also be responsible for resurfacing the Lennox Park tennis courts, for the design, construction and operating costs of the facility, ensuring there is public access, for relocating the basketball court, having $5 million in insurance and relocating the dome to the planned Barrie South Community Centre, once it’s completed.
Barrie’s parks and recreation master plan says indoor tennis courts aren’t a core municipal service and shouldn’t be built unless a partner can be found for both the capital and operating costs. The report also says there aren’t enough tennis players, now or in the foreseeable future, to support another indoor facility.
Demiray has already pitched domed or indoor courts at Queen’s Park, Lampman Lane Park, Painswick Park and at 79 Bell Farm Rd., but council hasn’t backed these locations.
At the Jan. 24 meeting, councillors had questions about whether some form of security could be obtained so the tennis dome becomes city property if the BCTC goes bankrupt or is unable to fulfill its obligations.
City staff have been unable to identify or qualify all potential sources of liability, although councillors now have some information on liens, securities and the infrastructure program’s ability to get a refund on its $400,000 grant to BCTC.
The tennis club must begin spending by the end of this March, to qualify for federal/provincial infrastructure money announced in June of 2009, by Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC).