By Thia James

POLL: City proposes 5.1% fee, rate increase at facilities

Oct 6, 2014 | 6:30 AM

The City of Prince Albert is looking to raise user fees and rental rates at its facilities by 5.1 per cent in the new year.

The increase would affect most, but not all, fees and rates. The increase includes a 2.7 per cent adjustment for the Saskatchewan Consumer Price Index and a one-time 2.4 per cent service charge for the City’s upgrade to the ActiveNet online booking system. The increases would generate an estimated $55,250 next year.

The increases will affect ice rental rates, banquet and event rates at arenas, and rates and fees at outdoor sports fields. A report from administration recommends an “early morning rate” be implemented at the Art Hauser Centre, the Kinsmen Arena and the Dave G. Steuart arenas to offset the cost of bringing in staff before 7 a.m. on overtime.

As well, the rental fee for the Art Hauser Centre’s west parking lot would increase from $190 per day to $495 per day.

And for the first time, the City will apply the fee and rate increases to the E.A. Rawlinson Centre.

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The increase would also apply to all rates and fees for aquatic facilities, including the Kinsmen Water Park, unless the slides are not reopened to the public next year.

“Should the waterslides not be repaired by next summer, a rate decrease would be recommended at that time,” recreation manager Derek Blais wrote in his Sept. 29 report to the executive committee.

He also recommends keeping the membership rates at the Alfred Jenkins Field House at its current levels. The rates increased earlier this year, and he noted memberships have increased by 25 per cent between September 2013 and September 2014.

However, Blais is recommending that increase be applied to all other rates and fees at the Alfred Jenkins Field House.

As well, the report recommends a $1 per hour increase on top of the 5.1 per cent fee and rate increase for Margo Fournier Center users.

Rates at the Arts Centre would not be affected by the increase because those went up this past June.

Community services director Jody Boulet has reserved comment until after members of council have discussed the report at Monday’s executive committee meeting.

Once approved by council, the new fee and rate structure will be used in the 2015 budget’s preparation. The fees and rates at the Alfred Jenkins Field House, Margo Fournier Center, aquatics facilities, and the E.A. Rawlinson Centre would increase on Jan. 1, 2015. The fees and rates at the outdoor sports fields and the other arenas would go up on April 1.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames