February 9, 2021 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT TO COUNCIL ON HILLSIDE STADIUM TRACK REPLACEMENT PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s authorization to replace the current polyurethane track surface at Hillside Stadium with a superior product called Mondotrack, or an equivalent high-performance product, which will be consistent with the City’s mandate of providing the best sport facilities possible for the community and further enhance event hosting opportunities through the Tournament Capital Program. COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN This report supports Council’s strategic priorities and areas of focus regarding: • Governance and Accountability - Asset Management: We proactively plan for the repair and replacement of our infrastructure. - Community Engagement: We are committed to engaging and connecting with Kamloops residents and stakeholders. • Livability - Healthy Community: We foster an environment that supports and promotes healthy living through recreation, community, and social connection. • Vibrant Economy - Economic Strength: We support initiatives that increase our competitive advantage, cultivate growth, and support our residents. - Partnerships: We continue to nurture partnerships with key agencies and organizations. • Environmental Leadership - Sustainability: We implement strategies that reduce our impact on the environment. SUMMARY Hillside Stadium field and track opened in 1992 to host the 1993 Canada Summer Games. As part of the Facilities Expansion Project in 2003, Hillside Stadium underwent a major renovation in conjunction with the construction of the Tournament Capital Centre complex. Hillside Stadium reopened to the public with a new track and artificial turf field in 2006. C:\Users\nmercuri\Documents\GroupWise\332274_Hillside v3_REP.docx February 2, 2021 Hillside Stadium Track Replacement February 9, 2021 Page 2 The following is a list of some of the events have been hosted at Hillside Stadium: • 1993 Canada Summer Games • 2000 World Association of Veteran Athletes • 2006 BC Summer Games • 2009 Canadian Masters Championships • 2011 Western Canada Summer Games • 2014 North American, Central American and Caribbean Championship • 2019 BC Athletics Track & Field Championships (with over 700 athletes in attendance) Continuing Kamloops’ tradition of playing host to national and international events, the City recently submitted a bid to host the 2023 and 2024 Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships (athletes under 18 years of age). Replacing the existing outdoor track with Mondotrack, or an equivalent high-performance product, would greatly contribute to the City’s success in securing this event and continue to enhance the City’s reputation of being a premier sport-hosting community. The current track is 14 years old and is scheduled to be replaced due to significant wear and safety concerns. The required upgrades involve replacing the entire polyurethane surfaces, including the track, jumps, and throws areas (Attachment “A”). Mondotrack is the highest quality of track surface on the market and is a superior product to polyurethane. If future repairs to the Mondotrack are required, the track surface is much easier to repair than the current polyurethane surface. The failing or damaged area is simply removed and replaced, and the base is reconstructed if needed. The City will retain some inventory of Mondotrack for future repairs. Installing Mondotrack provides an opportunity to take the Tournament Capital hosting program to the next level. The City currently has some of the best sport venues in Canada, and adding an outdoor Mondotrack to the inventory would set Kamloops apart from other sport-hosting communities in Western Canada. Mondotrack is used in Olympic venues around the world and is often a strict requirement for bidding on and hosting high-level track events. RECOMMENDATION: That Council authorize: a) installing Mondotrack, or an equivalent high-performance product, for the scheduled replacement of the outdoor track and using a combination of Gaming and Community Works funds b) reducing the Community Works funding portion of the project in the amount of any Athletics Canada grant received SUPPORTING COUNCIL AND CORPORATE DIRECTION There is no applicable information. C:\Users\nmercuri\Documents\GroupWise\332274_Hillside v3_REP.docx February 2, 2021 Hillside Stadium Track Replacement February 9, 2021 Page 3 DISCUSSION Hillside Stadium is the only track and field facility available in Kamloops and is used daily by residents and up to six days per week by the Kamloops Track and Field Club (KTFC) for training. The KTFC hosts eight major track meets through the spring and summer months and the Kamloops-Thompson School District hosts numerous zone and district meets at the facility each spring. These events bring thousands of youth athletes to City facilities each year. The City also actively pursues hosting national and international track meets at Hillside Stadium as part of the Tournament Capital Program and ongoing recruitment to attract premiere events, training opportunities, and elite athletes to Kamloops. The indoor polyurethane track at the Tournament Capital Centre was replaced in 2017, and Mondotrack was approved for the replacement. This supported the City’s objective of upgrading its facilities with superior products to offer the best facilities possible. By replacing the outdoor track with the same quality of product, the City will have exceptional indoor and outdoor facilities available and will be the only community in Canada with a venue of this calibre in one location. Hillside Stadium has recently undergone required updates in order to address wear and athlete safety concerns. For instance, the artificial turf field at Hillside Stadium was replaced with AstroTurf last year. Additional upgrades also include new lighting and a new sound system. Replacing the current polyurethane track surface with a Mondotrack quality surface would be a fitting upgrade and would ensure that Hillside Stadium is the best and safest that it can be for athletes and residents. The City has received feedback from some of its high-performance athletes who support the City in installing a Mondotrack surface as it would create an environment suitable for high-performance competitions. Testimonials Gary Reed 2007 world championships silver medalist 800 m 2004, 2008 Canadian Olympic Team member 800 m 2008 Beijing Olympics 4th Place, 800 m Designed for optimal athletic performance and chosen as the official track of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Mondotrack is the ultimate running track.” Mondo tracks are widely known among world class track and field athletes as the fastest and most superior surface to compete on. While competing for the Canadian Olympic Team I consistently travelled exclusively to competitions offering Mondotracks so I could continue to compete at the highest level. Over the course of my 10 year career, I set 6 Canadian records with all but one of them being run on a Mondotrack surface. When it comes to offering athletes a chance to run personal best and making Olympic standards, there truly is no other surface that can compare to Mondotrack. C:\Users\nmercuri\Documents\GroupWise\332274_Hillside v3_REP.docx February 2, 2021 Hillside Stadium Track Replacement February 9, 2021 Page 4 Dylan Armstrong 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bronze Medallist, Shotput As a professional competing at the highest level in Athletics, I know that Mondotracks have the best reputation among athletes around the world. Without a doubt, they have produced the fastest times in history. It is certainly known in the world of athletics which community has a "fast track" and who doesn’t. Ultimately, athletes are chasing qualifying times and they will always compete at the fastest track to increase their chances. If the City of Kamloops approves the Mondotrack surface, we will be the only facility in Canada to have both indoor and outdoor Mondotracks. Long term it is the best decision. The track in itself will increase opportunities to host national and international events and will attract athletes from all over the globe. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS During the review of the 2020 financial budget and with the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Council directed Administration to proceed with the installation of the field portion only of the Hillside Stadium track and turf field replacement project. The budget of $750,000 remains for the track replacement portion. The funds for the track were unspent and therefore are still available. Proposed Project Budget for a Mondotrack Estimated Budget to Replace Track Construction (Removal and installation of new surface) $1,750,000 Engineering and Project Administration 50,000 Track Maintenance Equipment (Rolling Stock) 80,000 Contingency (16%) 300,000 Total Estimated Project Budget $2,180,000 The cost estimates include the removal of the existing base materials if required. In April 2020, the City, with the support from the Kamloops Track & Field Club, submitted a bid to Athletics Canada requesting $900,000 to support a Mondotrack quality installation. The City hopes that its application will help with the costs, but with the project on the horizon, the City would like to move forward with planning the construction schedule to minimize the impact on track events and public use, particularly given the extended lead time for ordering this type of product. Should the City be successful in its application to Athletics Canada, the full budget requested in this report will not be required,