By Pete McIntyre

Pool hours reduced as of next week, fees to rise in April

Feb 27, 2020 | 9:35 AM

Shorter hours at the Vernon Aquatic Centre will start this coming Monday.

The pool will close a half-hour earlier Monday to Thursday, and one hour earlier on Fridays as of March 2.

A four per cent increase to admissions and fees will take effect April 1.

“While this is extremely unfortunate, individuals identified as being financially disadvantaged through our affordable access pass program can still receive a 75 per cent discount when attending the normal public swim times,” Doug Ross, the director of recreation services with the City of Vernon, said.

The changes are a result of a $43,000 shortfall over new safety rules requiring more lifeguards when there are 80 or more patrons.

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Previously, pool operators in B.C. were following the lifeguard-to-bather ratio standards recommended by the B.C and Yukon Branch of the Lifesaving Society, but Recreation Services learned last year the B.C. and Yukon Branch updated its recommendations to follow the National Safety Standards.

“Recreation Services has changed its staffing practice to meet this new standard,” Ross said. “This provides a safe environment for aquatics patrons and limits potential exposure to liability for the city.”

The change is estimated to require an additional 1,300 hours of guarding each year, which will cost an estimated $43,000 more than what was budgeted to operate the Aquatic Centre this year.

Greater Vernon Recreation Services provides its services and programs to the Greater Vernon area. During the 2020 budget presentations, recreation services made a number of service level adjustment requests to all partners of the Greater Vernon Recreation Facilities and Programming Service Agreement, which includes the District of Coldstream, Electoral Areas B and C and the City of Vernon.

Each partner was asked to support its proportional share of the $43,000 needed for the additional lifeguarding hours: $6,801 for Coldstream, $3,400 each for Areas B and C and $29,444 for City of Vernon. The request for additional funding was supported by Vernon City Council, but was not approved by the District of Coldstream or Electoral Areas B and C, as they did not want to open the current agreement.

The city’s comments over the extra lifeguarding costs led to this news release being issued by Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick and RDNO directors Amanda Shatzko (Electoral Area C) and Bob Fleming (Electoral Area B):

(submitted photo)

by Pete McIntyre

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