Skating Rink Ready For Year-Round Makeover

Ready by next June means another year without skating. Bad city planning...again. And if there is one thing New Haven has enough of, it's basketball courts. Cancel the basketball courts and fix up the warming hut..When did the public hearing take place so residents could voice their opinions?

That is a massively doubtful budget for the rendering shown.

Where is the bid process for the design and construction? Sure hope we put this out to bid - oh wait, did the company who said it was in such disrepair it needed to be shut down this season is not the same one who now doing the design and construction is it?

Denny Says, There was a meeting on the 16th of February at East Rock Magnet School -- reasonably well attended, I suppose, though not as many people showed up as I had expected. Maybe 30 people? A lot of rink staffers and local skaters, some who just skate for fun, some pretty serious-sounding hockey players.... and me.
Zinn, Bombero, and someone else whose name I never caught were representing the city of New Haven at the meeting. I found out about the meeting on the 14th and contacted as many interested parties as I could to tell them to go. But I only know so many people.

@Noteworthy, Doubtful. This looks like the next NH DIY Job. This has become more typically the expectation when Zinn is this involved in the presentation.

Here's a link to an article which outlines his ambition to have City Engineering and Public Works do more directly:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/new_firing_range/

Guess we are architects, engineers and contractors now as well as a city government. We'll do all of that just as good as people who only do those things, right?

nice idea if costs of construction are controlled...and that's a big if. If Zinn is using labor that is already on payroll to accomplish some of this and thus save taxpayers some $$s on outside services, that would be great.

I echo the disappointment in nothing planned for this site for the upcoming winter. Couldn't something be done?

and, if we are looking to make this a family friendly space, something needs to be done about this;

https://seeclickfix.com/issues/3503942

Either way, it's a testament to poor planning and sadly, an extremely negligent management history of benign neglect. I know for a fact, the previous management company kept the city apprised of the maintenance issues and Parks/Rec ignored every issue. Ignored.

@Lookout, "If Zinn is using labor that is already on payroll to accomplish some of this and thus save taxpayers some $$s on outside services, that would be great."

It may be great, that is until something goes sideways.

Third-party design professionals are insured against errors and omissions and generally have their work checked by a peer-review prior to it being bid and built. Unclear if any of that is in place / happening here.

Moreover, just because the city has a craft professionals to do maintenance does not necessarily imply that they absolutely have the skills to take on a brand new project, lay it out and see that it is constructed properly or in a timely manner. Not to mention, who supervises? What are their credentials and is going to be safe?

Concerns arise here, as they did at the firing range (see link above). The City, in it's attempt to cut cost, may rather be cutting corners.

And who ends up holding the proverbial (hockey) bag?

All of us.

Have been really outspoken here about the rink: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/skating_rink_set_to_close_for_winter/

And care very much that whatever happens there and that it be well done.

But, concerns don't just rest with the risk or technical aspects. Budget issues also abound. There is no comment from Zinn (nor follow up from NHI) on what pool of money is intended to cover the shortfall between the CapEx budget and total project cost reported in the article, which, again, seems low.

If it is 165's intent to both self-perform AND self-fund the entire thing, then would argue that they should book the whole job at point of commitment, not play some game where they represent a low number to get approval, then ask to make up the real shortfall in the following FY once there is no turning back...

There just needs to be some discipline here, and am not seeing that regardless of how capable or confident Mr. Zinn appears to be.

Do it right. Or not at all.

While project management and conceptual concepts are being done by Engineering there is a structural engineering firm that was competitively selected that is designing the roof and wall changes who is working VERY closely with the refrigeration/slab consultants who were selected as part of a competitive process (Bid 1/29 and Closed right before the first community meeting on February 16). Using an in-house project manager reduces the markup from a firm that would have bid the whole package and then had to bring in sub contractors to do these specialties (and we would not have been able to pick those subs).

While $1.5M was allocated for the first Phase of this project as part of the FY 18 Capital budget we have been straightforward at all public meetings and hearings that this is complementing previously approved Parks Capital Funds (Infrastructure Improvement Funds) that have been funding the design and early structural upgrades and that the project will focus on the needed improvements within the first tranche of money to get the facility open again saving some amenities like bleachers, parking lot and warming center upgrades (with the exception of the plumbing necessary to flush the toilets again) for potential future phases. Now that envelope is worked out we will be working to schedule our next community meeting to start talking about what "amenities" are the most important in the first phases. While the goal is still to be re-opened for this winter, its becoming more apparent that the pricing to sneak in for this winter will be significantly higher than if we delay.

Add more seats in there to get a Federal Hockey League team to play there. You would have a built in fan base immediately. New Haven is a hockey town!

New Haven Eagles
New Haven Nighthawks
Beast of New Haven
New Haven Senators
New Haven Knights

It's a no brainier.

This all came about due to a lack of professionalism, forethought and attention to detail. It now seems poised to continuing down that well-worn path.

Full disclosure, wrote this last week, but judged it to be too harsh. Here's the toned down version:

@Rebecca Bombero,

While I respect that you have responded, you have neither fully nor adequately addressed the preceding questions.

Here's a few more:

First off, was there truly a competitive process for the structural engineer you speak of? It's not on the record. Moreover, Purchasing has not posted a bid tab the work that was solicited in May. How come?:
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PurchasingBureauOnline/show_oppsIP.asp?RFPID={344AB7A0-A637-4DFA-B4C4-CF33C751A038}

If this is being done properly as is attested to (and hope it is), then please do post the firm's name, license number and the purchasing office solicitation number for the bid they won.

Secondly, the scope of the slab/refrig. consultant sounds too narrowly defined. If all they are working on is the ice surface mechanicals, what about the rest of the mechanical equipment? NHI's article says, "By this time next year, New Haveners could be enjoying a rejuvenated, ALL WEATHER ready Ralph Walker Skating Rink." If it is truly going to be "all weather" does that not imply the rink will finally be fully enclosed? If so one needs other mechanical systems within the rink to move / dry the air. If not, and the facility is still going to be partially open to the elements, then a new questions arise like: What is the point? Followed by: Why pay for part of an enclosure at all, let alone a partial one mad of glass?

Everyone who has enjoyed it, or who someday might, deserve better:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/skating_rink_set_to_close_for_winter/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/alders_outdoor_rink/
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/ralph_walker_ice_rink_/

@DennySays I am looking forward to a new skating rink as much as anyone else but there's no way a reasonable person could think we have enough basketball courts in this city. Go to any park in the city any sunny day and try to get in on a game of hoop. For high school students, two extra hoops could mean an afternoon of constructive physical activity for dozens of kids on any given day.

Thank you for all of your comments and feedback. The ice rink is an exciting project that we are all looking forward to completing as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

We rely on third-party design professionals (and their attendant liability insurances) daily, and this project is no different. We have assembled a design team (including Stantec, Spiegel Zamechnik and Shah, DTC, and Christopher Williams Architects) that reflects the various disciplines involved in the program for Ralph Walker Ice Rink, with scopes ranging from small to very substantial. All of these consultants were selected in accordance with the City's procurement policies (exact procedures vary by the size and nature of the contracts) and are well-known in the area (and some nationally) for their work.

Our first construction contract is underway, which is to reinforce the existing steel structure in preparation of the renovation. The contractor is Atlantic Equipment Installer, Inc, who specialize steel work: http://atlequip.com/steel_services

Perhaps unclear in the news coverage of our projects is that we are not attempting to design projects by ourselves entirely, but rather leverage our internal resources to both reduce costs and become more integrated into the design process so that decisions affecting program and budget can be made in a timely, informed fashion. For example, designing stormwater detention and retention systems, parking lots, and concrete are generally in the capabilities of the department and allow us to focus consultant dollars on areas of more specific expertise and risk.

As we said at the public meeting, we are happy to sit down with any residents to go over the plans of the project and discuss our approach, challenges, and opportunities. I renew this invitation to all, and please feel free to contact the Engineering Department at 203-946-6417 to set up a time. We have had some residents already come in, and it has led to very productive discussions.

@Giovanni Zinn,

Thank you for your response.

Am familiar with all of the firms you mention on both the design and implementation side and am reassured to a degree. To the extent that two firms you mention are involved, would even go so far to say I am encouraged.

Yes, the limits of the City's (and in particular your office's) role in the planning was absolutely unclear. This was further exacerbated by comments made by other departments and by a lack of readily available information pertaining to the contractual engagements you touch on. Moreover, if those engagements you mention are in place, there should be a transparent means for all to validate them. I still do not believe this is the case. Nor do I believe we are still making fundamentally strong choices with respect to scope. Nor does it seem from the comments here and my own experience that an above average effort is being made to reach out and advise on meetings. (Now before anyone at 165 throws their hands up at this, acknowledge that private developers get raked over the red-hot coals for even the implication of not communicating so let's keep some perspective here. The City has to do at least as good and arguably a better job at getting the word out... NHI article or Public Notice in advance vs in arrears, perhaps? IDK.)

Setting all that aside for a moment, still feel compelled to remind both Engineering and Parks that in spite of these now clarified efforts, and those made to establish a temporary arrangement at east shore last winter, we remain poised as a community to not have a functional ice surface again for only the second winter since 1921.

I sincerely hope it can be remade better than before and if it can be done so for less cost, all the better. But we did not need to be in this position. We could have been proactive and we were not, we were indifferent. This remains disappointing.

Thank you again for clarifying and for your ongoing efforts to correct and improve matters.