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 Camrose’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.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DON MAZANKOWSKI SCHOLARSHIPS $2,000 Application deadline February 28, 2022.

For eligibility requirements and the application form, please see your high school guidance counselor or visit the University of Alberta Augustana Campus website:

www.ualberta.ca/augustana/alumni-and-giving/giving

COVID TREND

Monday, November 22

City of Camrose Camrose County

70 active 22 active 325.9 active/100k 254.4 active/100k 1463 cases (total*) 630 cases (total*) 1360 recovered (total*) 606 recovered (total*) 33 deaths (total*) 2 deaths (total*)

Friday, November 19

City of Camrose Camrose County

71 active 19 active 330.6 active/100k 219.7 active/100k 1450 cases (total*) 623 cases (total*) 1346 recovered (total*) 602 recovered (total*) 33 deaths (total*) 2 deaths (total*)

Thursday, November 18

City of Camrose Camrose County

69 active 22 active 321.3 active/100k 254.4 active/100k 1442 cases (total*) 621 cases (total*) 1340 recovered (total*) 597 recovered (total*) 33 deaths (total*) 2 deaths (total*)

Wednesday, November 17

City of Camrose Camrose County

71 active 26 active 330.6 active/100k 300.7 active/100k 1437 cases (total*) 621 cases (total*) 1333 recovered (total*) 593 recovered (total*) 33 deaths (total*) 2 deaths (total*)

Friday, November 12

City of Camrose Camrose County

78 active 22 active 363.2 active/100k 254.4 active/100k 1413 cases (total*) 610 cases (total*) 1302 recovered (total*) 586 recovered (total*) 33 deaths (total*) 2 deaths (total*)

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Your support was incredi-BOWL!

As we navigated another year of fundraising amidst a pandemic, we want to thank our amazing community and sponsors for helping us raise $14,786. Special thanks to the following businesses and sponsors who donated $100 or more.

• Dave Chamberlain • Louise Tennant • Ryan Mohan • Vivianne Wright • Dee Jay Plumbing • Lou & Morris Henderson • Donna Carter • Maximum Mechanical

Repair • Rob Hauser • Tim Dubland • Coral Eklund • Dick & Cindy Bell • Rhonda Markowsky • Nola Ellingson • Nancy Muller • Edward & Karyn Bolduc • Otto & Marlene Streberg • Kevin Hycha • Ruth Ofrim • Allison Klassen • Shawn Nowakowski • Geraldine Hedley • Farnham West Stolee

Kambeitz LLP • Dennis Umrysh • Kent Freeborn • Patti Kapler • Faye St.Onge • Mark Lyseng • Michelle Majeski • Lori Spiller • Travis Culbert • Colleen Frederick • Paulette Vickers • Donna Niehaus • Angie Hauser • Lamb Ford • Leopold Bertrand • Ken Ozment • Brian Francoeur • Banack’s Body Shop • Ken Bardoel • Iona Brager • Liz Rolf • Louise Spenst • Terri Lyseng • Fielding & Company • Kevin Gurr • Plan It Consulting • Vision Credit Union • Lois Maunder • Fortis Alberta • EMCO Corporation • Shanked Computer Recycling Inc • Leanne Walter • Hauser Home Hardware Building Center • Camrose Insurance Services

Centra Cam

Vocational Training Association

Yo Shot!

A weekly dose of good old-fashioned advice, inspiration or simple logic.

By Lori Larsen

During the month of November, Alcohol Awareness Month, the Camrose CARE Coalition has been providing information on the sometimes sensitive topic of alcohol use and abuse, including alcohol awareness for youth and alcohol awareness for the workplace.

The following information provided by the CARE Coalition focuses on lowrisk drinking to support healthy lifestyles.

“National Addictions Awareness Week calls on all of us to learn more about issues related to substance use,” remarked CARE Coalition member Jennifer Willes. “This week is an opportunity to highlight ways in which all Albertans can play a role, big or small, to support one another in living addiction free.”

Approximately 80 per cent of Albertans drink alcohol. “It is embedded in our society. Drinking is a personal choice and people drink for a variety of reasons: to feel better, to combat boredom, to deal with stress, to celebrate, to mourn, to fit in, to forget, because we can’t stop,” explained CARE Coalition member Tammy Richard.

Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines are designed to help those 25-65 years old who choose to drink to decide when, where, why and how much, to reduce short- and long-term health risks.

According to these guidelines, a standard drink is 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol, 5 ounces of wine, a 12-ounce cooler, or a 12-ounce beer.

“It is also important to recognize that these are low-risk, not no-risk guidelines, and the guidelines set limits, not targets, for alcohol consumption,” said Willis, adding that a person can reduce long-term health risks by drinking no more than: • Women: 10 drinks per week, with no more than two per drinks a day, most days. • Men: 15 drinks per week, with no more than three drinks per day, most days. • Plan non-drinking days every week to avoid developing a habit.

Willis and Richard both suggested that if you choose to drink, follow these Safer Drinking Tips. • Set limits for yourself and stick to them. • Plan to drink in a safe place. • Drink slowly. • For every drink of alcohol, have one non-alcoholic drink. • Eat before and while you are drinking. • Always consider your age, body weight and health problems that might suggest lower limits. • Follow the recommendations in Canada’s Low

Risk Drinking Guidelines.

“Remember, zero alcohol is always the safest in the following situations,” advised Willis. • If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. • Driving a vehicle or using machinery or tools. • Doing any kind of physical activity. • Living with mental or physical health problems. • Living with alcohol dependence. • Responsible for the safety of others. • Making important decisions.

Richard added that creating alcohol-free connections in the community where you live, work and play will also be effective in reducing risks that accompany alcohol use and support your choice to avoid alcohol consumption.

“Small steps toward wellness can make a big difference to the health of your family, your friends, your co-workers, your community and yourself,” said Richard. “Follow these ways to wellness to take care of your mental and physical health.” • Be kind–Be kind to yourself and others. • Practice gratitude–

Embrace a positive outlook on life. • Eat healthy foods–Eat healthy to feel healthy. • Get active–Physical activity can improve your mood. • Be yourself–Appreciate how unique you really are. • Get your groove on–

Music soothes the soul. • Laugh–Laughter is medicine for the mind and helps to reduce stress and tension.

If you or someone you know are struggling with substances, telephone 8-1-1, Addiction and Mental Health office at 780-679-1241 or visit AHS online at help intoughtimes.ca. The Addiction Helpline is also available 24 hours a day by calling 1-866-332-2322. Visit edmontonaa.org to find Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-help support group, nearest you.

If you are affected by someone else’s drinking, support and information are available through Al-Anon and Alateen at al-anon.ab.ca.

For more information on alcohol, visit the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and check out Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines and the Knowing your Limits with Alcohol: A Practical Guide to Assessing Your Drinking booklet. Tune in to next week’s edition of The Camrose Booster for information provided by the Camrose CARE Coalition on alcohol awareness and older adults.

NEW WATER FILL STATION

The City of Camrose has a brand new water fill station, located at 3701-50 Street, with potable water for anyone (including neighbouring residents and businesses) to use! This station is accessible with your customer ID and PIN, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (The old water filling station at the Public Works facility will remain in use until December 3, 2021.) Go to www.camrose.ca/water-fill-station to find out more.

3701-50 Street

FOOD HEROES