Just when everyone thought the debate over pickleball and roller hockey was over, the issue had to be reopened on Tuesday because of an omission in the July 9 staff report. In it, the Chino Hills City Council voted to keep the rink but repurpose it for pickleball.
The omission was that a new rink plan to reduce roller hockey hours was presented to Council as part of the staff oral report, but was not listed in the staff report.
Roller hockey fan Oscar Huezo of Chino Hills contacted city manager Benjamin Montgomery the next day to express his concerns.
“It surprised us,” said Mr. Huezo. “The discussion in the council was mainly about the surface of the rink, but they also discussed a new schedule and we were not prepared for that. I thought that was unfair.”
Mr. Montgomery said he had discussed Mr. Huezo’s concerns with staff and put discussion of the rink plan on Tuesday’s agenda, which is the earliest possible date.
Mr. Huezo attended the meeting with two roller hockey fans on Tuesday and explained that the schedule allows pickleball on the rink 84 percent of the time.
He noted that open skating/roller hockey hours were reduced by 14 hours, from 20 hours to six hours.
The duration of pickleball play increased from 61.5 hours to 75.5 hours, an increase of 14 hours.
The time slots for the Prison City Roller Derby remained set at two hours on Monday and two hours on Wednesday evening.
Mayor Cynthia Moran objected to the reduction in open skating/roller hockey hours, saying the council had heard from pickleball, roller hockey and Prison City Roller Derby players who were equally passionate about their sport.
“I think it’s good that we’re doubling up on our pickleball league, but at the same time I appreciate that there are people who don’t play pickleball and want to use the space for roller sports,” she said. “I think we owe it to the roller hockey community to offer them something more.”
City Councilor Peter Rogers disagreed.
“If we add more dates for roller hockey, I would eliminate the Prison City Roller Derby, which is more of an outside group.”
Mr. Rogers said the reason the derby team is coming to Chino Hills is because other cities have followed the trend and closed their rinks.
Councilman Art Bennett said he agreed with Mr. Rogers’ proposal to eliminate the Prison City Roller Derby, but suggested keeping the open skate/roller hockey program in its current forms.
Finally, a compromise was reached on the following schedule:
Sundays: Pickleball from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the second pickleball league from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Mondays: Pickleball from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with open skating/roller hockey from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Prison City Roller Derby from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: Pickleball from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the first pickleball league from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: Pickleball from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with open skating/roller hockey from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Prison City Roller Derby from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Thursdays: Pickleball from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with open skating/roller hockey from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Fridays: Pickleball from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with open skating/roller hockey from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturdays: Pickleball from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Noticeably absent from Tuesday’s meeting were members of the Prison City Roller Derby, who have been active participants for the past two years.
President Vivienne Leonano said no one on the team knew about the meeting. “I’m appalled that the city is bringing this up after all the meetings we’ve been to and all their support for us,” she said. “They held a vote without our participation.”
Ms. Leonano said the team made a payment of $2,026 on the day of the council meeting. She said the team paid for February, April and May because the city was still behind on its bills.
She said the team is grateful to Mayor Moran for her prudence. “I feel like she really wants to help the community and make everyone happy,” Ms. Leonano said. “She hears our voice.”
