Draft tiered recreation pricing system receives council support

Sep 13, 2023 | 12:33 PM

The City of Vernon is establishing a tiered pricing and access system for recreation services, and the draft plan sees Vernonites receiving some big discounts.

After the Greater Vernon Recreation Facilities and Programming funding agreement for 2024 was not negotiated between the City of Vernon, RDNO Electoral Areas B and C, and the District of Coldstream, the city has decided to move forward with a system that would see Vernon residents get discounted recreation rates and earlier access to programs.

At city council’s meeting Monday, Sept. 11, Jason Blood, director of recreation services, presented council with details on the draft tiered system.

Blood explained they wanted to create a system that “highlights the specific tax contributions that are made by City of Vernon residents” while increasing user fees for non-residents for recreation services and programs.

“So the proposal is the Vernon Resident Program (VRP), a program that highlights the support of the City of Vernon taxpayers,” Blood told council.

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

3h ago

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

5h ago

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

6h ago

“It’s really an access card for residents that can be added to their user accounts that we already have as the overall Explore Recreation software.”

He went on to say this would essentially be a type of membership card that provides discounts and early access to services and programs, while still offering recreation opportunities for people living outside the city limits.

Under the VRP system, Vernon residents would have a 50 per cent discount on drop-in monthly and annual passes; a 25 per cent discount and a two-week early registration opportunity for recreation programs; and a 50 per cent discount on facility bookings.

For user group bookings, Blood suggested the groups submit their memberships and that additional charges be added for non-VRP-members. Those individuals would then have to repay the organization.

There would be some exemptions under the VRP. Blood said the Toonie Swims would continue to run; there would not be discounted rates or early access opportunities for training and certification programs or for day camps and summer camps programs; and that there would be no difference in school swim booking rates for those located outside the city limits.

Blood said non-residents would be able to purchase a VRP access card for their household under this system, at an extra annual fee still to be determined, to receive the same early access and discounts Vernon residents receive.

Following the presentation, councillor Akbal Mund expressed some concerns with the system, particularly with enforcement.

“I have my card and I give it to my good friend who lives in Coldstream how are we going to avoid that?” Mund asked.

Blood stated the card would be linked to an account, so when scanned it would bring up the member’s information on the computer, though specifics on that were still being worked out.

He added recreation staff will be working with individuals directly for facility bookings and there will be systems in place to ensure Vernonites receive discounts and non-residents do not.

Councillor Kelly Fehr said there should not be different rates for day or summer camps, but did think there could be priority registry for Vernon residents for those programs.

Chief Administrative Officer, Patti Bridal, informed council that specifics about how the card looks or enforcement are not on the table, and instead council should be considering the philosophy for approaching the tiered system.

She said the specifics could be worked out in the future, but at that moment, they needed to have the basic notion of the discounted rates for Vernon residents, priority booking for Vernon residents, and the ability for non-residents to purchase a VRP membership endorsed.

“We want council to endorse that so that we can move forward with bringing back a more fulsome report that’s going to actually lay out fees and lay out all those particulars on how we’re going to approach this,” Bridal said.

“So some of those questions will be answered and then you’ll get an idea on what fees we’re talking about charging for the drop-in rates and what the discounts will be, but first we need to ensure we’re going down a path that council supports before we put the work in to bring that back.”

Councillor Brian Quiring voiced some concern over the system being complicated and requiring a lot of administrative work, suggesting instead people just show their identification when purchasing their admission and then pay the rates associated with where they live.

Council ended up voting unanimously in favour of endorsing the draft tiered system and having staff report back with a more detailed plan for further discussion at a future meeting.

The tiered rate system is expected to be put in place January 1, 2024.

by Liam Verster

View Comments