Langford strikes bowling deal to spare taxpayers.
Think of it as a municipal
government version of bowling for dollars.
Langford has struck a deal
with the private operator of Langford
Lanes that will see the city pay for about $398, 000 worth of building
improvements in exchange for a larger share of the bowling operation's gross
revenues.
"It's a great deal for
us, long term," said Mayor Stew Young. "It guarantees the taxpayer,
no matter what politician is in, a revenue stream. So when they the bowling
revenues grow, we grow. "
Under the original
operating agreement, the operator, Planex Development Corp. doing business as
Langford Lanes, was responsible for the almost $400, 000 cost of what were
considered tenant improvements.
But after looking at
receipts and projected revenues, city staff proposed instead to amend the
agreement so the city would cover the cost of the improvements in exchange for
a two per cent boost in the citys share of gross revenues, to 14 per cent from
the current 12 per cent.
The operator agreed.
City staff estimate that
based on existing annual gross revenues of $2.5 million, the additional two per
cent would be equivalent to $50, 000 — enough to cover the additional capital
costs and interest in eight years.
"Once the tenant
improvements are paid, the city would continue to net additional revenue for
the balance of the contract
term — an estimated $550, 000 over 11 years," the staff report said.
"The risk of permanent
decline in revenue is deemed to be small given the level of activity to date,
the opportunities for revenue enhancement being contemplated by the operator and
the professionalism shown by the operator thus far," the report said.
"What I'm looking for
is long-term revenue streams, so I get rent and a share of their revenue,"
Young said.
The 20-lane Langford Lanes
10-pin bowling facility is part of the citys City Centre Park entertainment
complex, which has a 400-seat NHL-size ice rink, a restaurant and party rooms,
outdoor ice skating, a dry-floor arena, miniature golf, play zone, splash park,
fitness centre, trails, bike rentals and playing fields.
Young said Langford
receives inquiries from across the country about its recreation facilities at
City Centre.
"I want some sort of
private-sector mix where a business down there makes money and they give us a
percentage of the food, the alcohol — everything," Young said.
The idea, he said, is to
eliminate the need for a taxpayer subsidy of the facilities.
"The model works good
but we are new at it and we are trying to wiggle and waggle and make it good
for us and good for them."
Young said the recreational
facilities — operated through public-private partnerships — are a great deal
for taxpayers, unlike the publicly funded Juan de Fuca recreation complex.
"Juan de Fuca costs
Langford taxpayers $2.4 million a year in subsidy. Thats a huge cost to our
taxpayers. Down there at City Centre, to run all those facilities costs
taxpayers about $150, 000 a year, "Young said..