(file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

User Group Rates

Vernon’s tiered recreation rate system adjusted for groups

Mar 26, 2024 | 12:24 PM

A plan to provide reduced fees to groups using Vernon’s recreation facilities is getting support from city council.

The City of Vernon implemented a tiered recreation fee system on January 1, which allowed Vernon residents, as well as people living in communities that had recreation agreements with the city, to register for a Vernon Resident Pass that allowed the holder to access discount rates for drop-in and programs, as well as early access for registration.

However, recurring user groups were not addressed in the first phase of the new system, which raised concerns from groups whose memberships included people living outside Vernon and the partner communities of Coldstream, RDNO Areas B and C, and the Okanagan Indian Band.

To address those concerns, policy changes were drafted to outline the discounts recurring user groups would be eligible for, which were presented to Vernon city council at the regular meeting Monday.

The Tiered Fee Structure for Recurring User Group Bookings report proposed that minor sports organizations be eligible for a 50 per cent discount off the adult community rates. These groups will not need to verify their memberships, but will have to apply annually, and will have to list the previous year’s membership demographics.

Fire spreads to house

Vernon home "significantly damaged" by grass fire

Apr 02, 2026

Youth Health Services

Youth immunization, sexual health clinic opening in Vernon

Apr 02, 2026

Displaced For A Week

Some residents still displaced from fatal apartment fire

Apr 01, 2026

Community youth organizations will need to verify that their memberships consist of 80 per cent youth age 18 and under, and 80 per cent of them be Vernon Resident Pass holders. Meeting the criteria will allow the groups to receive a 35 five per cent discount off the adult community rates.

For community adult organizations, groups must be able to verify that 80 per cent of their members are Vernon Resident Pass holders in order to qualify for a 10 per cent discount off the adult community rates.

Both community youth and adult organizations will be required to submit a membership roster seasonally to Recreation Services that lists the names of members as well as the location in which they live in order to verify that the discount rate criteria is met.

The new systems for discount group rates will come into effect September 1.

Upon receiving the staff report, council voiced support for staff’s ability to take into account what the public had asked for and incorporate it into the policy.

“I want to thank staff for actually listening to the general public and how the structure is for some of the sports groups who do have players from outside the region. I think you’ve done an amazing job in trying to figure out the formula and I think everybody will be satisfied with this,” Coun. Akbal Mund stated.

“I know when we made the change we also told residents that we were going to be out there and grabbing whatever information we can from public engagements, so to make these changes based on that feedback just goes to show the general public that we are listening and we do recognize some of the challenges and we are willing to make those changes where necessary,” Coun. Kari Gares added.

Council voted unanimously in favour of receiving the report, directed staff to notify user groups of the changes, and have an amended fees and charges bylaw with the new rates and requirements brought forward for adoption at the next meeting.