Two childcare groups in Martensville that rent space in city-owned facilities will likely continue to get a break in their lease rates until the end of August.
At a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, February 9, Martensville City Council discussed a proposal put forward by city administration to extend the current 25% reduction in normal rental rates for the Busy Fiingers Pre-School and the Puddle Jumpers Pre-School. A majority of councillors spoke in favour of extending the break on lease rates until August, at which time they will be reviewed.
A motion to approve the lower rental rates is scheduled to be voted on at the regular meeting of Martensville City Council on Tuesday, February 16.
The Busy Fingers Pre-School leases space in the MacCormack Ranch House; the Puddle Jumpers Pre-School rents space in the Civic Centre. In September, 2020, Martensville City Council endorsed a 25% reduction in the rental rates for both groups until the end of December, 2020.
In a report to council, Martensville civic administration noted both childcare groups have a “significantly lower number of participants due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.”
Warman City Council,, meanwhile, is extending lower rental rates for commercial operations in the Legends Centre and Diamond Arena until the end of April.
At a regular Warman City Council meeting on Monday, February 8, councillors voted to extend the existing 50% reduction in regular lease rates to Subway, Booster Juice, Twinses and KB Sports, all located in the Legends Centre. The lower lease rates were first approved by council last September and subject to review at the end of January. The lower rates will be reviewed by council again at the end of April.
The concession contractor at the Diamond Arena is currently not operating, but is paying $25 per month to rent cooler space for her product.
The businesses granted the lower lease rates do not have their own separate entrances to the Legends Centre and Diamond Arena, and are thus subject to public health regulations the City of Warman is obliged to follow for its recreation facilities. Consequently, the number of patrons they are able to serve has declined dramatically and their revenue has also fallen.
In a report to Warman City Council, Warman Recreation and Community Services Manager Paul McGonigal said “lease operators have made it clear that business is very slow due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The lessees have requested to extend the rental relief for the months of February 2021 to April 2021.”
One other business, Top Shelf Sports, was originally scheduled to open in the Legends Centre this month, but that has been postponed because of the pandemic.