POLICY STATEMENT 141

TENNIS CENTER OPERATIONS

 

Prepared by: Mary Henderson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Replaces: Policy Statement 27

Adopted: 2/10/2005

Effective: 2/10/0225

 

Purpose

 

To adopt an official policy for the operation of the Cary Tennis Center , a public tennis facility administered by the Town of Cary designed to serve the tennis needs of Cary residents.  The policy is designed to reflect the facility’s goals, listed below.

 

Cary Tennis Center Goals:

 

1.         To enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Town of Cary and surrounding area by providing a first class tennis facility and tennis programs that addresses the community’s recreation needs while providing opportunities for major tournaments and events.

2.         To create and execute a management and operating philosophy which is consistent with the Mission Statement, Statement of Values and Goals of the Town of Cary .

3.         To staff, manage, operate, and maintain the Tennis Center to the highest industry standards in the best interest of the Town of Cary and the general public.

4.         To develop town wide programs that serve diverse age groups for all levels of play that maximizes facility use and revenue including opportunities for open court use, individual reserved court use, team and league play, challenge ladder play, group and individual instruction, tournaments (local, state, and national), youth camps, special clinics, and special events.

5.         To protect and maintain the facility’s condition so as to preserve and improve the Town’s capital investment.

6.         To provide the highest level of courteous, accurate, and responsive customer service.

7.         To maximize revenues and provide convenient services such as concessions, retail sales, rentals, and/or other opportunities.

8.         To promote the facility and tennis services in such a manner that enhances the reputation of the Town of Cary in the provision of recreation opportunities.

9.         To include input from the local tennis community in developing operations and programming.

 

Coverage

 

This policy, upon adoption by the Town Council, shall be applicable to the operation and use of the Cary Tennis Center until such time that the policy statement is altered, modified, or rescinded by the Town Council.

 

Policy

 

The Town Council of the Town of Cary hereby establishes the following policy:

 

1.         Facility Usage:  The following priority shall be established for scheduling:

 

a.         Town sponsored programs and activities

 

b.         programs and activities co-sponsored by the Town and other approved sponsors

 

c.         programs and activities sponsored by schools, civic and non-profit organizations

 

d.         all other types of use

 

Exception: courts 3-10 at the Cary Tennis Center were built as a joint project with the Wake County Board of Education.  On days when school is in session, Green Hope High School has first priority use on these eight courts during the school day for P.E. classes and after school for team practices and/or matches.

 

2.         Reservations

 

a.         Town sponsored and co-sponsored reservations may be made by tennis center staff at any time.  These reservations are to include, but shall not be limited to, town programs (i.e. classes, clinics and camps), special events and Cary Community Tennis Association programs.

b.         Non Town sponsored multiple court (three or more) usage by businesses, civic clubs, schools (other than Green Hope High School ), and other groups:

 

(1)       Must be approved by the tennis center administrative staff.

 

(2)       Must be paid for in advance.

 

(3)       May not be made more than six months in advance.

 

c.         Individual court (one or two courts) reservations:

 

(1)       May be made in person at the tennis center or by calling the tennis center.

 

(2)       May not be made more than two days in advance.  Exception: Annual pass holders may make court reservations up to one week in advance.

 

3.         General Hours of Operation:  Tennis courts shall be available for use during times listed below.  The Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (Director) or his/her designee shall reserve the right to alter the hours of operation due to weather and the health and safety of the public or employees.

 

a.         February 15-November 14 – 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. daily

 

b.         November 15-February 14 – 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. daily

           

4.         General Rules of Use of the Cary Tennis Center

 

a.         An employee shall be on duty in the facility during all hours of operation or whenever the facility is open to the public.

 

b.         The following shall be prohibited within or on the premises of the facility:

 

(1)       Smoking within the building or within the fenced area of the courts.

 

(2)       Weapons of all kinds except law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties and public demonstrations as approved by the Director.

 

(3)       Animals of any kind except those serving the needs of the handicapped and those used in public demonstrations as approved by the Director.

 

(4)       The use of profanity or profane gestures.

 

(5)       Alcoholic beverages.

 

Exception: with permission from the Director or his/her designee as outlined below:

 

(a)       Alcoholic beverages shall be limited to inside the building, on the back deck and the back patio area.

 

(b)       If deemed necessary by the Director, user shall secure and pay the salary of an off-duty Cary police officer while using the facility or other sworn officer, if approved by the Director.

 

(c)        Outside groups wishing to serve alcohol must complete an Application for Special Occasion Permit and pay an additional rental charge, as outlined in the Town of Cary annual budget, for use of the Center’s Alcoholic Beverage Permit.

 

(d)       User will comply with all regulations of the North Carolina State Alcohol Beverage Control Commission.

 

(e)       Applicant shall sign “The Permission to Serve Alcoholic Beverages Permit” certifying that all applicable North Carolina Stage Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Regulations shall be adhered to while using the facility.

 

(f)         Consumption of alcoholic beverages for Police training purposes or other Town functions may be exempted from sub-paragraph (a) and/or (b) above.

 

(6)       Any type of behavior that is detrimental to the normal operation of the facility or the safety of the public or employees

 

(7)       Any use other than what the facility was specifically designed for

 

c.         Upon request of the Director, police security will be required (at the user’s expense) and general liability insurance must be purchased.

 

d.         Persons/groups using the facility shall be responsible for the breakage, loss, or damage to the facility and equipment and shall bear the full replacement cost for such breakage, loss, or damage.

 

e.         Persons and groups using the facility shall be responsible for any personal items brought into the facility and shall remove same at the end of each scheduled use time and shall return any Town owned equipment to its designated place within the facility as directed by the facility supervisor.  The Town shall not be held liable for any personal belongings brought into and/or left at the tennis center.

 

f.          Persons making court reservations and/or scheduling private lessons are responsible for paying those fees when checking in to use the court or prior to taking the lesson.  The Town may deny service to those individuals who do not show up for court reservations or private lessons and/or add debits to the individual’s account.

 

g.         The facility shall be open to persons who are upon the premise for specific programs, activities, functions or other official Town business.

 

h.         The Director or his/her designee may implement any other action deemed necessary to protect the health and welfare of the public, employees or the facility.

 

i.          Tennis instruction may be provided at the tennis center by Town of Cary staff only, unless prior permission is granted from the Department Director or his/her designee.  (Reference: Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Code of Ethics 6.  “A member shall not give or solicit lessons where a resident professional is employed, unless prior approval has been given.” 

 

j.          Private individuals, businesses, or groups are not eligible to rent tennis courts for the purpose of making a profit.

 

k.         Any person/group violating any of the above general rules is subject to suspension from the facility and prosecution in the event of a law enforcement violation as provided in the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Cary .

 

l.          Proper tennis attire is required.

 

(1)       Shirt and shoes must be worn at all times (males and females).

 

(2)       Non-marking tennis shoes are to be worn on the tennis courts.

 

(3)       Patrons wearing inappropriate tennis attire may be asked to change their clothing and/or leave the facility.

5.         Sale of goods

a.         Town staff shall develop and operate a pro shop at the Tennis Center .

 

b.         The Town shall operate a concession stand in the concession area of the Tennis Center and/or on the premises.  This operation may be contracted out to a business or private individual with expertise in the food service area.

 

c.         Town staff may work with outside vendors to provide the sale of goods and/or services related to events for the duration of events held on the premises.

 

d.         No other vendors may provide and/or sell goods and/or services at the Tennis Center without prior written approval from the Director.

6.         Provision of tennis services

a.         Town staff shall provide varying levels and types of tennis instruction to the public.

 

b.         The Town shall offer a variety of tennis programs including leagues, ladders, and social activities.  This programming is to include cooperation/coordination with the local Community Tennis Association (CTA) and its programs.

 

c.         The Town shall recruit, plan, promote, organize and implement, in whole or as a cosponsor, junior and adult tournaments of varying levels (i.e. local, state, sectional, national and professional).

 

d.         Provision of services, other than tournament court rentals, that are not Town sponsored or cosponsored requires prior written approval from the Director.

 

7.         Fees for use of tennis facilities shall be those as adopted by the Cary Town Council in the annual budget of the Town of Cary .