A number of details were ironed out regarding usage of Airdrie’s recreation facilities at the July 15 meeting of City council.
Aldermen voted unanimously in favour of the ice allocation policy laid out by Greg Lockert, manager of Genesis Place Recreation Centre and the city’s ice rinks.
Priority was given to the three main youth groups that will utilize the ice surfaces at Genesis Place, Ron Ebbesen Arena and Plainsmen Arena this coming winter.
“We want to follow the Hockey Canada standard where each team is given two practices for each game that they play,” said Lockert.
The three facilities hold five ice surfaces between them and there were 275 hours of primetime ice available and the City’s three youth groups - Airdrie Minor Hockey Association, Airdrie Skate Club and Airdrie Ringette Association - will account for 93 per cent of those hours.
Remaining user groups such as adult hockey teams may reserve other available primetime blocks of ice time.
Council voted in favour of a five per cent increase across the board for Genesis Place admission fees in order to keep the facility running at a 100 per cent cost recovery.
Effective Jan. 1 2014, the cost for an adult annual pass will be increasing from $495 to $519 and family passes which account for two adults and any number of children will jump from $942 to $989.
Lockert presented the numbers to council, indicating that even with the increase, Genesis Place still ranks among the lower end of the price spectrum when compared to similar facilities.
Nine different facilities were looked at from cities such as Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Calgary and the average price for an annual pass for adults was $569 and family passes were around $1,240 per year.
Alderman Ron Chapman was on board with the price increase, stating not only was it a necessity in keeping up with cost recovery, but that the facility itself is top tier.
“We have a world-class facility here,” said Chapman. “I was talking to some of the air show pilots who were in town over the weekend and they were raving about it (Genesis Place) and how nice it is.”
Cost recovery was the main driver behind the fee increases, as in order to keep the facility functioning at a high level it was necessary to increase fees, according to Lockert.
“Everyone’s costs are going up, we have to spend more on utilities and all the supplies we need to keep things running smoothly,” said Lockert. “We have to increase our wages for our employees and things can come up like needing to hire more lifeguards because pool attendance starts going up.”
Close to 10 years ago, Airdrie City council approved a user support system for those whose incomes may not support the use of recreation facilities. The system offers a 50 per cent discount to those who qualify.
“Ideally, we want this facility to be affordable for everyone,” said Lockert. “Ten years ago, I think there were eight people who participated in this program and now we have 91.”
The current council also passed a resolution on July 15 to offer a 50 per cent discount on daily admission and monthly passes to those who were victims of flooding in Calgary and surrounding areas.
There will be some stipulations in place and those victims who have been temporarily removed from their homes will be required to show proof of address.
“We had about 50 requests both formal and informal for this kind of thing,” said Lockert. “It’s the least we can do, people need a place like this to come and get their minds off of what has happened (because of flooding).”
Additionally, aldermen voted in favour of a $25/hour surcharge to new user groups of any of the city’s ice rinks.
The surcharge will be in place through August 2017 to create a level playing field among current user groups and any new groups that may be formed in the future.
Current user groups have agreed to pay five per cent of the capital costs of the construction of the new ice rinks and Genesis Place, through August 2017; Airdrie Minor Hockey Association will pay $700,000 - over the five-year period.
A Potential issues raised at the meeting was, new organizations that are not required to pay the five per cent increase, could conceivably charge less for registration and as a result, poach members of other organizations.
