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News FROM THE VALLEY
Meadow Park fees could go up by 30 per cent
FEE INCREASES DESIGNED TO STEM FINANCIAL LOSSES
By Alison Taylor
It’s likely going to cost more to swim,
sweat and skate at the Meadow Park
Sports Centre next year — perhaps as much
as 30 per cent more.
And the visitors hardest hit will be
those who live outside Whistler.
Municipal staff is considering three
options for raising prices at the rec centre.
The preferred option, according to
Roger Weetman, manager of recreation
services, would see a $10 drop in fee, up
from the current cost of $8, with a 20 per
cent discount on pass prices for residents.
This could recoup about $125,000.
“Obviously there’s a goal to maintain
affordability,” Weetman told council of the
review at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The proposed fee increases are designed
to stem financial losses at the rec centre where
costs are outpacing revenues. Among the
things contributing to the gap in costs and
revenues is the increased competition from
the local commercial fitness centre and the
impact of the new outdoor village skating rink,
which it is estimated could have negatively
hurt the rec centre by as much as $50,000 in
lost skating revenues and admissions.
This year’s operating shortfall is
estimated at more than $1.37 million.
“As a result of the issues facing
Municipal recreation revenues and costs…
staff anticipates proposing relatively major
changes to the MPSC Admission and Pass
Fee Schedule structure,” wrote Weetman in
his report to council.
The biggest impact, however, will be
felt most by non-residents who will not be
eligible for the discounts that residents will
get on all passes. In addition, non-Whistler
residents could also face a 25 per cent
surcharge on rec programs.
Whistler, through Mayor Nancy
Wilhelm-Morden, requested a financial
contribution to cover operating costs from
the Village of Pemberton and the Squamish-
Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) but was
denied this at July’s SLRD board meeting.
Councillors expressed some concerns
about how complicated the pricing
structure appeared to be.
Councillor John Grills said he
was pleased to see that there would a
consultation period with the public.
Staff’s recommendation is planned for
early 2013.
Meanwhile, this year’s scheduled
maintenance closures start on Aug. 27.
The pool will be closed for maintenance for
27 days this year, from Sept. 4 to Sept. 30.
The fitness studio will be closed from Aug.
27 to Sept. 3. All group fitness classes are
cancelled during this time, resuming on
Sept. 4. The Weight Room will be closed
for four days, Sept. 4 to 7. ■
With files from Andrew Mitchell
Pemberton issues recreation
facilities feasability RFP
Pemberton residents wanting to swim in a public
pool in their own backyard, so to speak, are one
step closer to having that dream come true.
The Village of Pemberton has issued a Request
for Proposal (RFP) for a feasibility study into the
viability of shared recreation facilities. The RFP
will create a project summary, including what the
recreational priorities are for such a facility within
the community, the costs, and the relationship
building with the Lil’wat Nation and the Pemberton
Valley needed to ensure its success.
“We need to know, is it a pool? Is it a rink? Is it
an equestrian facility?” said Mayor Jordan Sturdy.
“We just want to collect good quality
information to inform a discussion.”
Sturdy said there was a lot of opinion on the
topic, “but very little in the way of fact.”
“We want people to understand what the
implications are… we collect the best information
we can in terms of capital and operations (costs),
and say ‘here are some options, what do you
think? This is what it’s going to cost you,’” he said.
“It could be that things come to a dead stop after
that because there isn’t the appetite for a significant
tax increase, which I imagine would be a result of any
kind of a major recreational investment.
“Mount Currie needs to be part of the picture
and Electoral Area C of the (Squamish-Lillooet)
regional district needs to part of this as well.” ■
- Cathryn Atkinson
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20 | August 23, 2012 | www.piquenewsmagazine.com