The current fee schedule for Parks, Recreation and Culture relating to admissions, facility rentals, program fees, marina, parks, cemeteries, and advertising expired December 31, 2020. Due to the pandemic and resulting service interruptions, capacity limitations and provincial lockdowns, Council approved holding 2020 fees throughout 2021.

Staff has undertaken a department user fee review. The process to complete a comprehensive fee review and revision of fees involves a thorough assessment of the market using municipal comparators as well as surrounding communities. During this process, staff will meet with the major user groups prior to Council approval of the fees. The review includes Municipal comparators who have similar facilities such as an arena, indoor pool, and sports fields, cemeteries, and recreation programs. Other surrounding municipalities were also surveyed to ensure that the Port Hope rates remain competitive with the surrounding competing markets.

Below is a summary of the notable changes proposed. Please see the Important Documents panel for the full reports.

Arena

• New fee for drop-in arena floor program for use in youth programming
• New daytime ice fee for weekdays before 4 p.m. to increase use
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all arena fees

Pool and Aquatics

• Change the Water Safety Instructor Course fee to match the National Lifeguard program
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all pool and aquatics fees

Recreation Programs and Day Camps

• Introduce a three-tier fee structure which takes into consideration the set up and take down required for specific uses
• Drop in program fees are to be flat rate fees and are not subject to annual percentage increases but will be reviewed on a regular basis
• Introduce a three-tier rental package for birthday parties based on staff and supply costs for varying party types
• Introduce a supply fee for program supplies requiring an additional cost to participants
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all programs, day camps and birthday party packages

Parks and Sports Fields

• Introduce a soccer field Lining fee due to material and labour cost increases
• Divide the lighting fee into two separate fees: one for rental use for more than two hours and one for rentals less than two hours
• Change the fee structure for picnic table rentals to a per day basis, with delivery included
• 5% increase in tournament fees (to match comparators) followed by a 3% increase a year until 2026
• 2% per year increase in indoor storage fees until 2026
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all parks fees

Meeting, Gym and Banquet Rooms

• Introduce a private rental fee to staff rentals at Ruth Clarke Activity Centre and Canton Hub, which have previously been unstaffed
• Review discounted rental fee structure for partners who contributed to fundraising at Town Park Recreation Centre
• Review Fees for Ruth Clarke Activity Centre and the Port Hope Community Hub
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all room and facility rental fees

Advertising

• Introduce an option to advertise on the stair risers at Jack Burger Sports Complex
• Introduce an option for advertisement in distributed booklets such as the leisure guide and special events booklets
• 3% increase per year form 2022 - 2026 applied to all advertising fees

Cemeteries

• Regular/Adult/Child interment rights and interments for coffin/vault and cremation fees increasing to become more comparable.
• Child interment and grave set up increasing slightly to cover increased contracting costs to target minimum cost recovery
• Decrease in Saturday fees to align with operating costs and more comparable costs for other service