Powell River’s recreation department is recommending the city hold the line with membership and admission fees in the coming year.
Ray Boogaards, director of parks, recreation and culture, speaking at City of Powell River’s finance committee meeting on Thursday, February 26, said that an annual review in most cases would recommend a basic increase for all fees and charges to address increases in annual costs such as inflation.
“In this year, staff recommends a freeze of all membership and admission fees,” Boogaards said. “We feel in this case it is going to assist us in starting to promote that a little more and start seeing where our other potentials are in that area.
“In addition, in the recreation complex service review that was completed by a consultant last year, the consultant recommended we revise and simplify the fees and charges to encourage membership passes. That’s another reason we are looking at freezing it for this year.”
Boogaards said in the schedule of fees and charges, there is a recommendation for corporate package so corporations in this community can purchase passes. He said the department is also looking at issuing larger 30-pass booklets.
Boogaards said on the increase side, his department is recommending a three per cent raise for all rental fees starting April 1, 2015.
Boogaards is also recommending a penalty-free rental cancellation period of 14 days’ notice, up from the current seven days. He said seven days does not provide his department enough time to sell that ice time or room again.
“We have to start looking at this as a business and to start increasing our revenues,” he said.
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman asked if there had been any examination of a drop-in rate for dead ice time at the recreation complex.
Boogaards said the fee structure in the proposed bylaw would allow the department to put some ice time on sale.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he wants to make the recreation complex more visible to the community.
“We have a huge, beautiful asset growing in value with the addition of the cycling and skate park but you can’t see it,” Formosa said. “If you are new to the community and driving by, you don’t even know it’s there.”
He said when potential new investors or residents are driven around town, those conducting the tours like to show off the community. There is no obvious way of seeing the recreation complex from a distance because of the forest around it.
Formosa suggested that maybe trees could be trimmed in the vicinity of the recreation complex so that people driving by can see the facility from the road.
“Don’t cut the trees down but expose that beautiful facility,” he said.
Councillor Russell Brewer, committee chair and a professional forester, said foresters conduct that type of activity regularly but there are difficulties with cutting back the trees that are on the recreation complex property.
“I think a sign would go a long way,” he said. Council has received a report on purchasing a digital sign for the recreation complex, likely to be located on Joyce Avenue. Boogaards said he could bring back a report.
The Parks, Recreation and Culture Fees and Charges Bylaw 2400, 2015, effective April 1, 2015, has been referred to city council.
