Kelowna investigates two-tier fee structure for recreation programs – Kelowna News

If you live outside of Kelowna, you could end up paying more to access the city’s amenities and recreation programs.

This week, the City Council asked staff to investigate what that might look like.

“It was a good discussion because basically the application of saying you’re a ratepayer in Kelowna, that’s a facility you’re paying for, so you should have a preferred rate when you use those facilities,” the mayor said Tom Dyas. Castanet during a one-on-one interview.

“Potentially, some of the neighboring communities would pay a bit more to use these facilities.”

What that structure would look like or even what it means is something the board is looking for answers to – does it mean a $50,000 per year revenue stream or $500,000 per year?

“If that’s the case, then can we use those funds to improve the services we have in Kelowna?”

Discussions around a two-tier system are nothing new, but Dyas says the board is now asking staff to do more research and provide as much information as possible.

One item staff will be working on is a system where local residents will have first right of refusal to sign up for programs like sports leagues or swim lessons.

Currently, some programs offer this opportunity, while others do not. The programs would open to others from outside the area after that.

While Dyas says the city wants to be a good neighbor, it can’t shoulder the burden for the entire region.

“We’ve had discussions with our neighboring communities and about absorbing more of the issues around some of the transients and some of the homelessness that happens here.

“Not everything is meant to come to Kelowna. We need to establish them in the other communities so that there are resources for them in those other areas.

“We want to do the same with our sports and have them available, but we also have to be aware that our residents are paying for the facilities and how we treat them in the future and give them the best facilities for They?”