Bri Oliver has four boys, all playing soccer and baseball. But if District of Squamish officials raise recreation fees for the use of municipal fields, she questions how long that will last.
I might have to start making choices as to what child plays what sport, she told council at Committee of the Whole on Tuesday (March 4).
Last year, council requested that staff kick around recommendations for new recreation and parks fees. The department's fee structure is more than 20 years old, said Tim Hoskin, the municipality's director of recreation services. Five years ago the district increased rentals, admissions and campground fees by seven per cent in an attempt to close the gap between bills and costs.
We're trying to get sport field fees consistent with the other user groups, Hoskin said, adding Squamish's charges are consistently below average compared to other communities.
The district's recreation programs and rentals, including the ice arena, recover 25.5 per cent of their annual bills $636,000 of the $2.4 million operating expenses. Aquatics pulls in 25.7 per cent of its $1.5 million costs, subtracting a little more than $400,000. Sports field fees amounted to the lowest cost recovery at 2.8 per cent $14,200 annually compared to the $503,540 operating charges.
Municipal staff proposed a 10.3 per cent increase on aquatic centre rental rates, a jump of $18.59 per rental. The arena rates would be bumped up six per cent, equalling an additional $11.45 on rentals and use of dry slab would see a 51.3 per cent increase $19.30 per rental.
Under the current proposal, field usage would be brought in line with the municipality's other facility rentals, charging a fee per hour on all field rentals, Hoskin said, adding the new system could generate $30,600 in 2015. This would also introduce a fee for youth to use the Brennan Park and turf fields, he noted.
Some councillors weren't chuffed about the idea of dinging kids for sports. The revenue from the change is a drop in the bucket, Coun. Susan Chapelle said. User fees may not be the best way to subsidize recreation, she noted, adding that she wants municipal staff to explore the idea of public-private partnerships (P3s).
In 10 to 15 years, the district will face the renewal of its $1.2 million new artificial field, Coun. Doug Race said, noting a new field will likely cost a similar amount to its creation.
I think it is very important to start setting up a reserve for then, he said.
When council approved construction of the field in 2012, district officials said they anticipated annual field maintenance and replacement would cost $70,000 $10,000 a year for annual maintenance, $50,000 per year over 10 years to replace the synthetic turf and $10,000 per year over the 20-year life expectancy of the underlying shock pad, The Chief reported at the time.
Race said he's more supportive of charging adult sports higher fees and keeping youth sports rates low and viable for families.
Municipal recreation will always be highly subsidized, Mayor Rob Kirkham said. However, rec users have a responsibility to pay for the facilities, he added. Council requested staff use the per hour rental rates for all fields as a starting point and consult with local sports groups. Out of that, a recommendation will come back to council, Kirkham said.
