Recreation costs increase

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Dig a little deeper into your hockey sock and bathing cap this year, as Strathmore council voted on Dec. 2 to approve 10 per cent flat fee increase on all usage rates and facility fees, with increases up to 35 per cent for advertising and facility space. Fees apply to the Aquatic Centre, Civic Centre and Family arena.
“This is the third increase in a row to bring up our fees to industry standard and make them comparable fees,” said Tracy Simpson, Community Services Coordinator. “We haven’t kept up increases for about seven to nine years in a row, so that is what we are proposing. We are making changes in the facilities and those changes are reflected in the fees.”
Simpson presented the schedule of fees to council and stated the fees will bring Strathmore more in line with the charges other centres use for fees. She said some areas were modified to address the usage differences, such as the holding capacity and advertisement revenues between the Gold and Blue hockey arenas.
Private dressing rooms fees in the arena will be increased by 30 per cent each year for three years, and will be charged a flat monthly rate for year-round use.
One of the meeting rooms will be converted into office space and rented at $425 per month and could be shared between two to three user groups who need office space in the arena. Storage space will be charged $30-50 per month.
Councillor Steve Grajczyk asked if there were any reductions for patrons with special needs.
“I realize what this is all about but I think some of these people are struggling as it is,” said Grajczyk.
Simpson replied there were no direct fees reductions for low income and special need families; however, there are many free promotions sponsored, such as the Lions’ one free swimming time per week that families and individuals could utilize.
Councillor Walls asked whether the fees were comparable and if this raise will create a loss of use for the facilities.
“For the arena we do compare and we are very competitive with our ice rates, the civic centre is a little lower but we priced it to what we thought the community can bear. The aquatic centre is a whole different thing; every pool is so unique and offers very different programming. We do our best to compare and we feel we are competitive to similar sized communities.
Simpson said she didn’t think increases would decrease usage.”
Councillor Pat Fule pointed out the facilities are repeatedly coming in with a $2,135,000 deficit and the town has to do something to address those costs.
Council passed first reading through the third and final reading with a unanimous vote on Dec. 2. A schedule of new fees will be available at the town office and later posted on the website.