One of the hi-tech electric Zamboni ice resurfacing machines similar to those sought by the City.
The City is considering the purchase of 53 Zamboni Electric Rink Resurfacers to clean its network of ice rinks and arenas.
An amendment to a contract between the City and the Zamboni Company has been added to include 53 of the state-of-the-art resurfacers at a cost of just under $10 million.
The purchase will be considered by a General Government Committee on September 19 and then by City Council at a meeting on October 8, 9 and 10.
City staff said in a report the new ice machines are required to replace aging assets, reduce the state of good repair backlog, and support a Zero Emission vehicle fleet to meet Council carbon targets.
Some of these electric ice cleaners can cost up to $250,000 or more each.
The initial contract value was estimated to replace approximately 37 electric ice rink resurfacers between 2023 to 2028. Due to insufficient funding the original contract did not include State of Good Repair replacement backlog, the report stated.
The City operates more than 50 outdoor rinks and indoor arenas. It is not known what will occur to the well-used Zambonis now at the end of their operation.
The Electric resurfacers can cost up to $250,000 each and features: lithium-ion battery, mission control at your fingertips, quick charge between resurfacing, redesigned drivetrain, onboard battery charger, central vehicle controller and customer-driven design.
The machine was invented by Frank Zamboni in 1949 in California with the “Model A Zamboni Ice Resurfacer,” of which a patent was granted in the U.S. in 1953.
The report stressed the Zamboni Company Ltd., is a Canadian based business headquartered in Brantford, Ont., with a second location in Quebec. The made-in Canada purchase meets the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in Response to U.S. tariffs, adopted by Council last March.