The City of Martensville has frozen facility rental and admission rates at their current levels for the coming year.
Martensville City Council voted at its meeting on Tuesday, December 15 to postpone a scheduled 2% increase in rental rates and 2.5% increase in admission rates for 2021. The scheduled rate increases were part of a three-year plan adopted by council in May, 2019.
The decision includes rental rates for the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (MAP) gyms, track, board room and multi-purpose room, the North Ridge Centre, the Heritage Centre, Curling Rink,, Sports Centre, ice surface and mezzanine, ball diamonds, athletic fields and aquatic centre. It also includes admission and membership rates for the MAP and aquatic centre.
Councillors voted to freeze the rates in an effort to lessen the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents who use the facilities.
Martensville city administration estimates the rate freeze will result in reduced revenue for the coming year of between $8,000 and $13,000.
While the city’s hockey arena remains closed as a result of the current COVID-19 public health restrictions, civic workers will be clearing snow from Kelly’s Pond in Kinsmen Park, as soon as the ice is deemed thick enough, in preparation for outdoor skating paths.
Martensville Recreation and Community Services Director Ted Schaeffer told council at the December 15 meeting that the “skating loop” is designed to encourage skating activities that comply with safe physical distancing guidelines.
“It won’t be a large ice surface area where shinny games can break out,” said Schaeffer. “Those types of activities are not part of the plan.”
The outdoor rink warm-up building at the Sports Centre was scheduled to be completed by December 15. Schaeffer said the use of the building will be determined by the current public health order.
Installation of security cameras has been completed at the North Ridge Centennial Community Centre and the skate park. Signage alerting the public to the presence of the cameras has been put up.