Parks and rec fees are set to go up in Whistler.
On Nov. 19, council gave first three readings to an amendment bylaw that includes fee schedules for Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC) admission and pass rates, Lost Lake Nordic Trails day ticket and pass rates, indoor facility rental rates and outdoor facility rates over a four-year period.
The bylaw, based on a recommendation from staff, will increase the base rate at the MPSC by 25 cents (from $8.75 to $9) for 2020 and 2021 with another 25-cent increase for 2022 and 2023.
All other MPSC admission and pass products will increase according to the change in the base rate.
Over four years, the change will amount to a 1.4-per-cent increase per year in MPSC admission and pass rates.
It's "really, really difficult" to compare Whistler's rec fees to other communities, said manager of recreation Roger Weetman, but the proposed $9 drop-in rate is below Penticton ($11.25) and Canmore ($16), and in line with Revelstoke.
"From an affordability perspective, we're always maintaining that balance of trying to stay affordable, but keeping our costs up so we're not having to raise property taxes each year to keep pace with our increases," Weetman said.
The RMOW will "continue to support affordability" at MPSC through a number of discount and promotional opportunities, including early bird/late owl admission and pass products; reduced rates at certain times of the year; discounted access on two nights a week after 6 p.m.; a variety of volunteer opportunities that offer a free pass and more.
The proposed increases are expected to increase revenue by $37,000 in 2020 and 2021 and another $37k in 2022 and 2023.
Staff also recommended increasing the base rate at the Lost Lake Nordic Trails by one dollar (from $22 to $23) for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, and another dollar for the 2022/23 and 23/24 seasons (an average increase of 2.2 per cent per year).
Discount and promotional opportunities on the trails include Monday and Thursday "Community Night" discounts of 50-per-cent off after 3 p.m.; early bird passes available each spring for the following season; Whistler Experience passes offering a 25-per-cent discount; season passes for volunteer ski patrol and trail hosts; free skiing for kids under seven and more.
The changes will amount to $11,000 in additional revenue in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Interim fees at the Andree Vajda Janyk Sports Field are also set to be confirmed at staff's recommendation.
Introduced in March, the rates for use of the entire field range from $10/hour for local registered youth agencies ($35/hour for adults) to $100/hour for out-of-town commercial or admission-charging groups.
Local youth groups pay $20/hour ($40 for out-of-towners), while local adult groups will pay $70/hour ($85 for out-of-towners).
With no negative comments received from user groups, staff recommended the interim fees be confirmed.
Lastly, staff recommended a nominal annual percentage increase of two per cent for both outdoor and indoor facility rental fees "in the interest of offsetting annual department cost increases related to payroll, electricity, fuel, the municipality's share of school district operating costs at the community centres, and equipment and materials related to upkeep" of the facilities, according to a report to council.
Further, a change to the parks and rec fees and charges policy will increase the charge to external personal trainers at MPSC from 1.65 times the base rate to twice the base rate.
"The rationale [there] being that the rates are subsidized, and if there's one rate that maybe shouldn't be subsidized, that's the one," Weetman said, adding that there's "about a dozen or so," personal trainers who use the MPSC, some more frequent than others.
