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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS-04-84DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES OFFICE TELEPHONE 623 -3114 TOLL FREE 987 -5039 40TEMPERANCESTREET BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 REPORT TO GENERAL PURPOSE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 2, 1984 REPORT NO. CS -04 -84 SUBJECT: "PARK PEPVIT FEES" RECOMMENDATIONS: 'It is respectfully recommended that; 1. This report be received for information; and 2. That Council authorize exemption of the $2.00 park permit fee when maintenance of playing field is the responsibility of an appointed Board or Committee. BACKGROUND & COMMENT: With approval of the 1983 Budget, Council authorized the Community Services Department to initiate a park user fee of $2.00 for use of parks (baseball and soccer), owned or maintained by the Municipality. Since that time, the Tyrone Community Centre Board and Solina Park Board have expressed concern related to this fee, feeling that in their particular cases, the Community Centre and playing field are or will be maintained by their own volunteers, and support for these groups would wean if they had to pay for their own services. (Please see attached letters) After meeting with the Tyrone and Solina Boards it was agreed by staff that their concerns were warranted. Members of the Kendal Athletic Association did not express the same concern, how- ever, their situation is similar to that of Tyrone and Solina and I have also recommended they be included in Recommendation #2 above. Respectfully submitted, xx Jose P. Caruana, Deputy Director' Department of Community Services° M1f, VILLAGE OF TYRONE and surroundings Community Centre March 12, 194. Sir. t. Fanning, Community Services, Town of Newcastle, 152 Church Street', BOMA1VVIEZE, Ontario. Dear Mr. Fanning: RE: Park User Fee Please be advised the Tyrone Community Centre is not in agreement with the above fee. We feel such a fee would reduce the turn out of volunteer workers whenever a project or work bee needs to be completed. Yours very truly, TYRONE COI dUNITY CENTRE jz - r Rebecca Taylor, Secretary. copy to: Bruce Taylor, Town of Newcastle, 40 Temperance Street, BOW111A2,1VILLE, Ontario. tvrone, ontarlo, Canada Date: March 22, 1984 Subject: PARK FACILITY USER FEES To: Mr. Joe Caruana cc: Councillor B. Taylor Councillor A. Cowman L The following letter is in reference to our recent meeting concerning user fees and other responsibilities running our park facility. The Solina Park Board requests that the Town review the policy of charging user fees to parks that are managed by appointed boards. We are appointed to run and maintain our park for the citizens of our area in the Town of Newcastle. The recent expansion of our park was done with the excellent cooperation of the town and also the hard work of our local volunteers. Many of these people also participate on adult teams. By imposing user fees, volunteer labour and support is discouraged and two tiers of management are created. This does not exist for hall boards or arenas with boards. It can only work for facilities that are directly controlled by the town such as Memorial Park. One policy connot apply to two different situations. Currently the town has been cutting our grass which has been very helpful. Because of our expanded area of grasp- to maintain, we have raised extra money to purchase our own equipment to cut grass. This will eliminate the town staff from having to perform any maintenance activities at the park. It was stated that the town would pay for the cost of grass cutting in lieu of it being performed by town staff. This would definitely be a help to the park and a net savings to the town. We will leave it up to the town to set a fair rate. 1 rM __S� 5 � � -2- The following is a list of guidelines which we feel is necessary for boards maintaining recreational playing fields. 1. The board is responsible for managing and maintaining park facilities. 2. The board will maintain bookings for teams playing at that location. (Necessary to control activity when bad weather jeopardizes damage to fields. Only local control can do this). t 3. User fees be eliminated by the town and each board be responsible for setting any user fees, if necessary. (This will maintain volunteer assistance and financial support). 4. The town set a budget for some aid in grass cutting expense. Our intention is to promote volunteer support for maintaining and financially supporting park facilities in rural areas. This can only help to maintain a lower cost to the town and taxpayers. hbt /1 Yours sincerely, i Herb Tink Secretary- Treasurer