Starting on Wednesday, the Leisure Services fees and charges in Cranbrook will go up. Cranbrook City Council adopted the City of Cranbrook Leisure Services Fees and Charges Bylaw at its last regular meeting on Aug. 16.

The adjustment to fees and charges will partially offset net costs of providing recreation facilities and services and borrowing costs related to the upgrade of the Memorial Arena. According to the report recommendation provided to Council, the improvements made to the Memorial Arena will be cost neutral to property tax payers.

At the meeting in July, where Council gave the bylaw three readings, Mayor Scott Manjak said the increase Leisure Services fees and charges is a reflection of Council’s decision to shift to a user-pay system. Arena fees will increase five per cent every year over the next five years to achieve the goal of renovation costs being paid for by user groups.

The two-tier fee structure remains in place after a referendum in mid-June 2010 asked Area C residents to pay for $1.25 million of the $3.6 million cost to upgrade the Memorial Arena. Approximately 18 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls and 379 voted no, over the 331 who voted yes.

The City of Cranbrook will pay $2.6 million of the cost of the upgrades, with $1 million coming from a federal government grant from Western Economic Diversification under the Recreation Infrastructure Canada program (RinC).

Under the new bylaw adult fees will see the largest increase at the three arenas of approximately 40 per cent, while youth fee increases will be 25 per cent.

The Aquatic Centre fees will see a net three per cent increase (10 per cent including HST). The last increase in fees at the Aquatic Centre was in 2008.

A Sport Pass is available for purchase for non-residents of Cranbrook who take part in activities (hockey, swimming etc.). After purchasing a Sport Pass, a person can then pay the same fees as someone who lives in the city.

Work is currently being done on the Memorial Arena and City Staff anticipate it will be available for use again by mid-October.