City of Powell River council has decided to eliminate non-resident fees charged by the parks, recreation and culture department.
Council passed the first three readings of the department’s fees and charges bylaw at a special meeting on July 12, in order to implement an annual increase. The new fees do not include a 33-per-cent surcharge for users who live outside city boundaries.
The city brought in non-resident fees in 2005, after officials were unsuccessful in convincing Powell River Regional District rural directors to cost-share in parks and recreation services.
Councillor Debbie Dee said she liked the fact the city was removing non-resident fees from the bylaw. “I think it’s confusing for people who come in from outside that imaginary boundary to use our facilities and don’t know why they’re getting charged more,” she said. “This is a political issue and a political hot potato.”
When Councillor Chris McNaughton was a city director on the regional board, Dee said, he tried to address the issue and got nowhere. “This is a Hatfield and McCoy, 30- to 40-year-old issue that needs to stop,” she said. “The regional board needs to come on board and be part of our parks and recreation program.”
Dee challenged councillors Maggie Hathaway and Jim Palm, current city directors on the board, to bring the issue “to the table again.”
Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture, recommended eliminating non-resident fees at Powell River Recreation Complex as a way of increasing revenue during a budget presentation to council earlier in the year. “Revenues did not increase by projected amounts when the non-resident fees were implemented,” he said. “Attendance actually dropped somewhat in the complex.”
Councillor Myrna Leishman said rural directors have said that cost-sharing only works when both local governments are involved from the beginning of a service. As well, Texada Island has its own recreation commission and Lasqueti Island would not be involved in sharing costs, which would leave only three electoral areas to contribute.
