The City of Courtenay wants to hear from you about how it should set fees for its recreation facilities.
The fee structure is under review, and the city is looking for input through an online survey.
You can link to the survey here.
Mayor Bob Wells says the review is an opportunity for people to ensure the fee structure is meeting the needs of the community.
“Our users range from individual drop-ins to fitness programs, to large commercial users wishing to rent our facilities,” Wells said.
“User fees help support the cost of running these services, with the balance provided through property taxes. We’re trying to achieve a more open process to establish fees, and ensuring the fees are fair and appropriate for all users of these public facilities and programs.”
Recreation programs and services help meet the social, physical, and mental health needs of the community.
Last fall, the city retained the services of RC Strategies to conduct a recreation fees and charges study.
The city says the fees and charges survey will ensure user costs for these important community services are fair, practical, and consistent, while ensuring that the process for establishing these fees is transparent.
The intent is to develop a policy that aligns fees and subsidy levels with the amount of benefit the community and individuals receive from the services.
This is known as a “benefits-based approach”.
Initially, public engagement was supposed to happen in March but it was postponed because of the pandemic.
Organizations that use rec facilities will be consulted separately through a User Group Survey.
Courtenay Recreation facilities were closed in March because of COVID-19.
Staff are working on a gradual, phased reopening of programs and facilities.
The survey will be open until Aug. 31.
There will be an opportunity to provide feedback on a draft report before the review process is finalized. This will happen in the fall.
You can learn more here.
