Fees for using the Town’s Parks and Recreation facilities are to go up on Sept. 1.
Charges are also to be introduced in 2015 for soccer programs at Cecil Martin Park and Beaver Brook.
Barrhead Town Council approved the changes at its regular meeting on Monday, May 12.
They relate to such facilities as the Agrena, Curling Rink, Aquatic Centre, Multi-Purpose Room, Ball diamonds, and Rotary Park RV Campground.
In a report to council, Chief Administrative Officer Martin Taylor said recreation fees and charges were last revised in 2011.
“It is incumbent as a department to continue to assess and ensure that we maintain affordable fees for all recreation facilities and amenities for Barrhead residents taking into account increasing costs for both capital and operational,” he said.
“A review should be undertaken at least every 3-5 years to ensure that the user not just the taxpayer contributes fairly to actual costs of operations.”
Taylor said research had been undertaken into fees charged for similar amenities in comparable municipalities like Devon, Drayton Valley, Westlock and Athabasca.
As a result, he said, it was determined that slight increases be incorporated in Barrhead’s fees and charging policy.
In addition, he said, new fees should be introduced for soccer programs offered at Cecil Martin Park and Beaver Brook starting in 2015. The youth rate will be $10 per field for a two-hour booking for practices and games; the adult rate will be $25.
For Mini Kickers, First Kicks and Mini Soccer there will be no charge for field use. However, registration with the Recreation Department will incur a $5 fee.
The Agrena hourly rental fees will be changed as follows:
• Youth activities – such as minor hockey, figure skating and ringette – from $75 to $85; use before 9 a.m., Monday-Friday, $70 to $75; school use, Monday-Friday, $25 to $35;
• Adult activities - $120 to $135; one adult use, 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., $90 to $100;
• Adult hockey admission charge non-local - $125 to $150; and
• Private booking - $75 to $85
Aquatic centre rental fees will be reviewed one-year before the new facility opens.
The fees schedule is: adult, $5; adult with child or children five and under, $3; youth (6-17), $3; preschool (3-5), $2; infant (0-2), free; senior (65 plus), $4; family (two adults and three kids), $15; hot tub and/or sauna $3; and showers, $3.
The fitness pass fees are:
*10 passes - adult, $45; senior, $36; youth $27; pre-school, $9; and family, $135;
*20 passes - adult $90; senior $72; youth, $54; pre-school, $16; and family, $270; and
*Drop-in - adult, $5; senior, $4; youth, $3; pre-school, $1; and family, $15.
Coun. Shelley Oswald said she liked the revised fees.
“I think we need to revisit them more often,” she said. “The small increase in fees will help run the programs.”
Coun. Leslie Penny noted that the proposed 12-month season pass for an adult at the aquatic centre was $260. “I think it should be no less than $300,” she said.
Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre wondered whether it would be better to review fees every year. That way fee increases could be introduced in small increments – as opposed to a big rise every three or five years.
Penny believed a review every other year would be more practicable, avoiding the need to have leaflets on fee schedules updated annually.
Coun. Ryan Warehime pointed out that tennis court fees had been omitted from the proposed rates.
Parks &Recreation Director Sue Keenan said this was an oversight. She suggested an addendum on tennis court fees could be presented after the revised fees and charges policy had been approved.
The council agreed with her suggestion.
Keenan said her preference was for a fees review every other year.
Asked to explain why soccer programs were being included in the policy, Keenan said preparation of the fields at Cecil Martin Park and Beaver Brook required a lot of work.
She added: “Why wouldn’t we charge for soccer when we charge for baseball?”
