After freezing rental and admission rates for civic recreation facilities in 2021, Martensville City Council is poised to approve increases in those rates for 2022 and 2023.
Council will vote on a schedule of rental and admission rates proposed by the city’s recreation and community services department at its meeting on Tuesday, May 17. The proposed rates were discussed at a council committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, May 10.
Three years ago, in May, 2019, Martensville City Council approved annual increases of 2% for recreation facility rental rates and 2.5% for admission fees for the 2021 and 2022 calendar years.
However, the sudden COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March, 2020 threw those plans out the window. All recreation facilities were closed. As public health restrictions gradually eased and the economy opened up later in the year, council voted in December, 2020 to provide a break for residents by freezing the rates until January, 2022
In a report to the May 10 meeting, Martensville Recreation and Community Services Director Ted Schaeffer said the proposed rate increases reflect current higher costs of operation for civic facilities, and are aimed at ensuring fairness and equal accessibility for all user groups.
If approved by council at its May 17 meeting, the new rates will be posted on the Martensville city website.
The proposal would see admission prices go up for admission to many facilities, including the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (MAP):
* Adult single admission to the MAP would rise from the current price of $7.60 to $7.80 in 2022 and $8.00 in 2023;
* Students and youth admission would go up from its current $4.00 to $4.10 in 2022 and $4.25 in 2023;
* Senior admission would rise from its current $4.85 to $5.00 in both 2022 and 2023;
* Family admission would rise from its current price of $18.75 to $19.25 in 2022 and $19.75 in 2023.
In addition to increases for various facilities within the MAP, a new fee for installation and removal of floor covers for certain events is also likely to be implemented beginning this year.
Schaeffer explained the installation and removal of the floor cover is labour-intensive, requiring six workers, each putting in four hours worth of labour, for each installation or removal.
The MAP concession booth, which has so far this year remained vacant, will be rented out to user groups at a cost of $100 per event.
Admission fees to the Martensville Aquatic Centre would also rise, although the rates have yet to be determined.
Rates for rental of outdoor facilities by user groups will be posted on the city’s website. New this year will be a rental fee for user groups who are looking for exclusive use of the outdoor rink adjacent to the Martensville Sports Centre.