Essex enters lease agreement with Chittle Sports Academy for space at Essex Arena

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

 

 

After five-months of   refining agreements and providing three delegations before Council, the    Town of Essex agreed to   extend By-Law 1722, being a By-Law to   lease 343 square feet   at  the   Essex Centre Sports     Complex to Chittle Sports Academy (CSA), until    December 31,   2024.      It  also   agreed to enter    a  lease    for   workout space    at  the   Essex    Centre Sports Complex with Chittle Sports    Academy to operate within the   Libro Rink    Hallway at  the   Essex Centre Sports Complex.

Pat Chittle first appeared before Council in  June.    Chittle has   been operating Chittle Sports Academy –   a   sports training school –  since 2006,     and   leasing space from    the   Town for   the operation since 2012.   Originally, 1,860 square-feet of  space    on  the first   floor    below    the   stands in   the   Libro Rink    was allocated, then    in   2018, Chittle Sports Academy formally requested a reduction in  leased space for the off-ice training, wanting two dedicated rooms for a total square footage of 340-squarefeet.

In 2021, this lease agreement was extended for an additional three-years, which was to expire in August of this year.

It was noted at the June meeting, Chittle Sports Academy wanted to again expand into the hallway, with a further request to utilize additional storage rooms and wanted a start date of June 1.  Council postponed Chittle Sports Academy’s request to expand its lease at the Essex Centre Sports Complex at the time to give administration time to work with user-groups and the Academy.  Reps from the Essex73’s and some Councillors voiced concerns at the time.

The matter returned in August, and Council directed Administration to continue working with all parties to further communicate and agree on the terms of the lease as concerns still existed.  Chittle said he successfully worked with Town administration and the Essex 73’s Junior “C” hockey team to complete a mutual shared space agreement, as Council requested one previously.

He shared the hallway space will provide for dry-land training, youth development, health, fitness for teams and individuals, and sport-specific training with hockey being a big piece of that passion.

“In completion of the shared space agreement, we are excited, our current members are excited, and our waitlisted clients – in anticipation of your approval – we are all excited to get things kicked-off,” Chittle said, hoping “Council will see the innovation, benefits, and possibilities behind our passion.”

Councillor Kim Verbeek thanked Chittle for sticking with it and working with administration on completing the lease.

“For a little while there, I was getting a little nervous that we would lose this wonderful service,” Verbeek said.

Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services, noted that some of the notable changes included ensuring all parties were in agreeance the construction of the wall was to be at the cost of CSA, CSA would stay within the confines of the leased space, the 73’s will have a key to access the area for game and practice times, CSA will leave a 5’ corridor through the space for access for the 73’s as a throughway.

In addition, CSA can not conduct business 1.5hrs before 73’s games. Business can start after the game begins, but throughway traffic after and through game times must be able to get through. 73’s will have access to the area one hour before practice times. CSA knows game and practice times may vary.

An operational camera will also need to be installed within the confines of the space to alleviate concerns about potential damage.

While the 73’s are not in favour of any business takin glace in the hallway area, its reps did relay they would be able to work with this agreement with these terms in place, Morassut noted.

Councillor Rodeny Hammond noted he did not agree with giving discounts to for-profit organizations in terms of ice rental. He also noted he was a little disappointed in the Essex 73’s, as a lot of the youths participating in the CSA programming are aspiring hockey players with a goal of making this team one day.  He thought it would have been a great opportunity for those youths to mingle with their mentors.

Councillor Joe Garon said he was happy an agreement was made in working out some of the concerns. He agreed with Hammond on the ice rental reduction.

Morassut explained that primetime ice hours are on weekdays between 4:30pm and 11pm and on weekends from 7am until 11pm. Non-prime hours are mostly outside of those hours. The discounted rate was intended for daytime ice time on weekdays, which is half off the non-prime rate, from 7am until 4:30pm. Typically, it is schools, gym classes, and academies that use those    hours.

There    is  little utilization of   non-prime rates.   The rate    provided to Chittle was   negotiated in previous lease    agreements and   carried over,  Morassut noted.    He   added    there    has not   been    another group to   ask   for   that.    If   one did, it  would go   through the    Finance Committee and    would be   funded through the   Community Partnership Grant, if approved.

Verbeek added the times CSA rents ice would likely not   be   rented by other    organizations. She spoke    of  how   that   discount allows     costs    to  be  kept   low for participants.

Garon can   get   on  board with    allowing the   hallway usage. He   still    believes there    needs    to  be  a  Town policy with    respect to rentals on   properties the Town    owns.    In  regards to ice   time,    he  would     prefer it  be  at  the   non-prime rate.

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley was    glad    to  see a  workable agreement get completed.

All revenue from    the lease    will   go  into   the   Essex Centre Sports Complex operating budget, to  assist with    offsetting increasing operating expenses.

Your Ad

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*