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CSRD seeks details from Salmon Arm on recreation facilities, differential pricing

City asking for postal codes to get percentage of out-of-town users
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The City of Salmon Arm is collecting postal codes from recreation facility users to determine what percentage of them are from out of town.

A question about recreation facilities in Salmon Arm was asked and answered by the same person.

In a July 3 letter, and acting on a board motion, Columbia Shuswap Regional District chair Kevin Flynn asked the City of Salmon Arm to provide any information such as documentation, data or reports regarding a recreational facilities strategy, particularly as it relates to the development of differential pricing. 

“This could include relevant background information in addition to current practices and materials,” he wrote. 

“We believe your information and insights will contribute significantly to our discussions and decision-making processes.”

The issue arose at the June board meeting when Electoral Area G director Natalya Melnychuk said several of her constituents had asked why the City of Salmon Arm is requesting that patrons provide their postal codes when they use recreation facilities such as the pool, rec centre or arena.

At the July 18 CSRD board meeting, Flynn, who is also a Salmon Arm councillor, replied to the letter.

“There is no, at this time, formal recreation facility strategy,” he said. “We have a long-term strategic plan with a future pool and recreational facility upgrade that has probably been extended by at least five years from the original plan, but who knows.”

Flynn pointed out Salmon Arm’s twin sheet ice arena is now 20 years old, the pool is 40 years old and the city had to shut down the aging Memorial Arena because it is no longer safe.

“We’re in a bit of a not-sure-where-we’re-at spot,” he said. “There’s no question that at our table (city) we are discussing differential pricing if we’re not going to have participation from electoral areas.”

 Area C Director Marty Gibbons asked if Vernon was switching from a tax-based system to a user pay system. 

Flynn referred to Vernon, which is planning a new pool. When closest neighbour Coldstream balked at contributing to the new pool, Vernon doubled fees for users coming from outside of the city. Coldstream subsequently came back to the table.

“We’re asking users for postal codes so we can understand what percentage of our facilities are being used by non Salmon Arm residents, because we don’t know that,” he said. “Nothing has been decided, but we will share the recreational facility strategy that has not yet been developed.”

On hearing that, Gibbons said he would like to see the data on where users are coming from when it has been compiled, something Flynn was agreeable to.