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## Vernon Council to Discuss Recreation Facility Rental Fees

Photo: Jon Manchester

Vernon council is set to convene on Monday to address the issue of recreation facility rental fees, a contentious subject that has sparked debates among local user groups and non-profit organizations. Concerns have been raised that the current fees are already exorbitant and act as a deterrent for hosting public events that could greatly benefit the community.

Among the attendees anticipated at the meeting are numerous community groups, eager to voice their opinions and make their concerns known.

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Over the course of three months, a third-party fee review was conducted, comparing Vernon’s fees with those of other communities. However, the review failed to clearly depict where Vernon’s fees stand in relation to the price spectrum.

The recommendations put forth by the review include:

• Adhere to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2024, and propose a 5% increase for that year.
• Establish a two-year cycle for the fees and charges bylaw.
• Create a discretionary grant process to support groups in hosting major community events.
• Consider allocating a portion of the regional hotel room tax funds collected in Vernon to enhance and maintain city facilities and amenities used for hosting tournaments and events.
• Implement higher fees for maintaining the most expensive fields and lower fees for the less expensive ones.
• Review programs to offer both premium and low-cost options.

Expressing concerns about rental fees, the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce conducted its own survey, which revealed that these fees act as a substantial deterrence to hosting events, with cost being the primary concern for its members.

The Vernon Farmers Market, for instance, saw its rental fee for the Kal Tire Place parking lot triple, while other groups such as Vernon Winter Carnival and Funtastic have persistently raised complaints about rental fees, with varying degrees of success in obtaining fee reductions from the council.

Recognizing the public’s dissatisfaction, the council stated in July that it acknowledges the complaints and user groups eagerly await the council’s response.

Besides rental fees, the review also recommends changes to the fees for recreation programs.

“The determination of all operating costs is crucial in establishing a baseline for facility rentals. Once this information is obtained, cost recovery goals and subsidy rates will be formulated, leading to the determination of appropriate fees with the council’s guidance,” states a report presented to the council.

A final report is expected to be submitted to the council in the spring.

One of the suggestions made is to introduce an a la carte option, where users can choose additional amenities to customize their rental price.

The creation of an event coordinator position is also proposed, which would act as the main contact person for large-scale events, serving as the intermediary between city staff and event renters.

The report further highlights that the hotel room tax already contributes to the support of parks, recreation facilities, and community events. Funding from the tax goes towards financing the event coordinator position, the Sport & Culture Society of the North Okanagan (which helps attract and support events), and more than $100,000 in cooperative marketing partnerships and event sponsorships.

Additionally, “Operations and Recreation Services also have funds allocated in their operating budgets to provide assistance with events held in parks and facilities by offering in-kind services and waiving facility fees required to run longstanding events.”

Recipients of these funds include Vernon Winter Carnival, the Okanagan Military Tattoo, Canada Day Society, and the Remembrance Day ceremony.

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