From: Carol Sheridan, Manager of Parks and Recreation

Administration:

Posting for a temporary Recreation Clerk closed on Jan 15^th and interviews will take place the week of Jan 20. The preferred start date of the successful candidate will be sometime during the week of Jan 28. Jenny Anderson has submitted her formal request for a one year maternity leave from her position starting Friday Feb 14.

Undergoing a review of expectations and updating agreement for bookkeeping services with Deanna Maclean.

Confirmed the auditing services of Omland Heal Accountants for the fiscal year ending Dec 31, 2013. This is the final year of their services as identified within the existing contract awarded in 2012. Omland Heal will be conducting their review during the month of February, 2014.

Conducting one-on-one meetings with all employees to gather feedback about operations, management and work culture in 2013 and ideas for improvements/goal setting in 2014.

Attended a very informative Risk Management Workshop in December that dealt specifically with risk management of arenas. Met with the RFAs to review some specific policies surrounding ice surface depth, snow removal, and post-game dressing room activity by adult user groups. Updated the policies and guidelines for Public Skating and retrained the Skate Attendants. Signs informing park users that the walkways are not maintained in the winter have been posted in Community Park. Continuing to review arena policies and procedures.

Held a meeting with Dean Keller of SOMHA to discuss some major concerns with players being on the ice surface or hanging over the player’s bench boards while the RFAs are cleaning the ice. A formal letter was sent to the SOMHA executive outlining these concerns and clearly stating our policy:

“No minor hockey players shall enter the player’s bench area or ice surface until the RFA staff have  completed their ice maintenance and the Zamboni has left the ice surface.”

Mr. Keller agreed to forward the letter to all the division coaches. Additional signage stating this policy will be posted next to the player’s benches targeting players exiting the new dressing rooms.

Working with some of our key weight room members to develop a Weight Room Volunteer Program. The goal of this program will be to assemble a team of volunteers who will spend shifts of time monitoring the weight room, providing orientations and general information to patrons and helping to enforce the safety guidelines and weight room use policies set up by administration. In exchange for their time, volunteers will earn credit towards the use of our facilities. For example, 10 hours of volunteer time served will be exchanged for 10 visits to either the weight room or the pool.

Facilities:

Working with CIMCO Refridgeration consultants to prepare an RFP for the supply and installation of a new chiller for the Arena. The document should be ready to go out by the end of January, we will be looking for bids to be submitted by the end of February and a company chosen shortly after to ensure we can complete this capital project by the end of May 2014.

As per the 2014 capital plan I am developing an RFP for the supply and installation of weight room equipment including (but not limited to) an elliptical trainer and a recumbent elliptical trainer, a rowing machine and a treadmill.

As per the 2014 capital plan the pool pumps have been removed and delivered to Penticton for servicing. They are expected to be reinstalled at the beginning of March.

Tennis nets were taken down at the beginning of December and inspected. Minor repairs are required to one of the three nets however overall they are in very good condition. Weather dependent, the nets will be put back up towards the end of February.

Moving towards a Healthy Vending Machine policy for Recreation facilities. Working with Coca Cola to change out the current drink machines in the hall, arena and pool for ones that promote water and sports drinks on the front and will hold more water and juice products rather than pop. Effective January 1.^5t 2014, Macdonald Vending will stock the vending machines at the Oliver Arena and Oliver Pool with a minimum of 50% products that fall under the category of “healthy brand name food list items” as determined by Health Link BC. It will be necessary to work with the Lions’ Club to offer more healthy options in the arena concession in the 2014/15 season to continue in this direction.

Community Development:

Facilitating the work of 5 project committees for the Oliver Healthy Living Coalition.

Hosting a semi-annual Family Fair event sponsored by Communities for Kids on Saturday Feb 8^th. The event is free to the public and targets families with children 0-6 years and will feature several service providers, live entertainment and healthy foods.

Partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart to offer a free wellness seminar targeting older adults in the middle of February.

Attended a tour of the Venables Theatre along with 7 other Oliver residents who are being considered as the founding members of a new Theatre Society who will operate the facility if/once approved and appointed by Town and RDOS elected officials.