The CAMROSE BOOSTER, November 23, 2021 – Page 10
City proposes fee increases By Lori Larsen
During the City of Camrose November 15 Committee of Whole meeting, administration presented a report on the annual fees and charges Bylaw for 2022, proposing the following changes as per the report. All fees and charges are proposed to increase by five per cent, based on direction provided by previous council with the following exceptions: • Youth ice rates in effect between January 1 and August 31, 2022 are proposed to stay the same as the present rate in order to maintain them at the rates in effect between September 1 and December 31, 2021; • Day pass fees for Shinny Hockey, Drop-In Night and the Running/Walking Track are proposed to increase by $1, in order to maintain a round fee that’s easily payable through cash; • Proposed rates for 2022 drop-in fees at the Aquatic Centre have been rounded off to the nearest $0.25 above a five per cent increase; • Rates related to recycling and residential solid waste collection have been left at their 2021 levels; • Assessment Review Board Complaint Fees for Residential and Non-Residential over $2 million have not been increased, as they are at their legislated maximums. Administration proposed the following additions: • Under Community Services: Golf Course– Packs, an 18-Hole “Twenty Pack” for $500, as a means of trying to attract more adult golfers; • Under Planning and Development Services: Development Permits, General Uses–a base rate of $200 per application has been reinstated for Industrial applications. Administration proposed the following removals: • Under Community Services: Golf Course–Golf Passes, the removal of all fees related to the “Super Senior” category and hold the senior rate for 2022 at the 2021 rate; • Under Public Works: Utilities–the removal of fees related to Custom Tapping Services; • Under Public Works–the removal of fees related to Ambulance Repairs and Maintenance, Labour without Equipment, and Supervisor’s Labour. Comments from council
Councillor Kevin Hycha inquired as to whether or not there was
an increase in the Pickleball fees. City of Camrose Community Services general manager Ryan Poole responded, “Based on discussion with previous council, they decided to charge the same drop-in fee as the Community Use Night, because the Community Use fee is increasing from $5 to $6, so too will the Pickleball fee.” Councillor Agnes Hoveland asked about the Super Senior Golf rates. Poole replied, “With regards to the Super Senior rate, our proposal there is to eliminate that rate and hold the Senior Rate stable for one more year, to simplify matters.” Poole added that in an effort to attract more younger golfers (20- to 55-year-olds have lowest numbers for use), the City implemented other packages. “We addressed green fee payers (who basically said), they can’t afford the roughly $1,200 for adult membership, or they don’t have enough time to justify $1,200. We are trying to draw in that crowd that we are losing because they are too busy to justify a whole season pass.” Councillor DJ Ilg inquired as to whether or not administration had compared other municipalities’ fees with comparable facilities for recreational use. Poole said every two to three years, the City does an in-depth comparison, adding that the comparison is not done just on facilities similar to that of Camrose, but also municipalities in similar situations to Camrose, such as travel times to other types of facilities. “That would eliminate facilities in and around Edmonton because they have a lot higher draw, their facilities are in higher demand. So that limits us to comparing to places such as Wetaskiwin, Lloydminster, Stettler or Brooks.” Ilg asked if the City has ever entertained doing an “all-access” type of pass. Poole replied. “The Aquatic Pass is an all-inclusive pass. It gives access to either of the two walking tracks, fitness facility and aquatic centre.” Poole added that while Camrose Golf Course may not have some of the features of golf courses in other municipalities, those municipalities may also not have access to a swimming pool, walking track or fitness facility such as Camrose. Councillor Ilg further asked if administration could provide the hightime/low-time usage rates for other municipalities, suggesting because there is not a large gap in Cam-
rose’s high-time/low-time usage rates that perhaps increasing the high-time usage rates and lowering the low-time usage rates may promote more downtime sales. Poole replied, “The low-time rates are only one of the rates offered during the low times. We also have school group rates, which actually schools take advantage of, and other user rates where the Kodiaks and Vikings get to have essentially the youth rate during the low times to come and practice to use up daytime hours. We actually get quite a bit of use out of both of those teams.” Poole did say that some user groups have expressed that even if there were no fees, they still would not be able to use the facilities during those downtime hours. Ilg asked if the rates for all (Camrose) arenas were the same. Poole said yes. “All that most users require is the ice and change rooms. The quality or quantity of the stands is not as important. The minor hockey groups (City’s biggest user of ice) are just as happy playing in the Border Paving or Max Arena as they are in Encana.” Ilg asked administration to present to council information regarding user times and peaks and where the City is experiencing downturns. “I thought we might be able to potentially come up with some ideas that might help run some different types of promotions to get users in on those downtimes.” Poole indicated administration could prepare some information for council to consider. Councillor Don Rosland inquired as to the history on why fees and charges were increased by previous council. City of Camrose manger Malcolm Boyd said that previous discussion with council at that time regarding what administration was experiencing with regards to fees and rates for services concluded with council at that time directing administration to consider a five per cent increase across the board and bring it to the next council. City of Camrose Community Development general manager Patricia MacQuarrie indicated two errors in the report that needed to be corrected prior to it returning to council at the December regular council meeting. Councillor Kevin Hycha asked if it would be feasible to consider rounding up or rounding down the amounts on some of the rates and fees. In conclusion, Boyd
clarified council’s direction to administration on Annual Fees and Charges Bylaw 3190-21. “I haven’t heard one thing change markedly from what we have shown. We have seen a request to look at some of the (arena) downtimes and I am trying to figure out how we would bring that back to council in a policy-type scenario. “We can certainly look at that and bring information back to council. The direction from council would be for administration to look for opportunities to provide promotions to eliminate downtimes. I can’t think of another policy where we would have that opportunity to provide that type of direction. If there is an interest in increasing the prime time rate on the arena to encourage people
to go to the low rate, that is direction, but I haven’t heard to do that with this, so I just want it to be clear. “Other than fixing a couple of typos and perhaps looking at some opportunities to get rid of spare change (rounding up or down fee amounts), we would attempt to bring back the bylaw that you have now.” The Fees and Charges Bylaw will return to Council at the December 6 regular council meeting for first reading. For complete details of the report on Bylaw 319021 Fees, Rates and Charges for Services Provided by the Municipality, visit the City of Camrose website at camrose.civicweb.net/ filepro/documents/60636.
GRAND MAC
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Owners Teresa and Tony Hoffman of Camrose Oil Alliance McDonald’s, the McDonald’s east end location at 3919-48 Avenue, cut a ribbon with Mayor PJ Stasko and general manager Joel Callanta to launch the new outlet on November 16.
BROTHERS GOLF
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
The bond of brotherhood banded together in generosity when the 33rd Annual Camrose Brothers Golf Tournament representatives made a $1,740 donation to Camrose Neighbor Aid Center. Pictured left to right are Camrose Brothers Golf members Glenn Lyseng, Ken Duggan, Ross Shuman and Gordon Berg presenting to Camrose Neighbor Aid Center program director Jo-Anne Tweed.
