City council has approved a number of rental rates for City facilities including for the new Co-op Aquatic Centre.
The rates were approved at the regular meeting of city council Monday.
Rental rates were approved for all three City- operated arenas: the Civic Centre, the Don Ross Centre and the Agriplex, commencing in fall 2012 and continuing for the next three operating seasons, to be calculated to reflect a minimum cost recovery of 50 per cent.
Two other resolutions did not make it through Monday's meeting.
Tabled to the next meeting was a resolution that proposed rental rates for the Co-op Aquatic Centre effective on the opening day of the facility and the definitions sheet showing the formulas for establishing these rates, be approved.
This resolution would have more or less reaffirmed what council decided back in September 2011, when they unanimously passed a resolution approving the proposed rate structure for the new aquatic centre. Facilities Manager Bill Samborski pointed out there were some new rates included in the schedule.
Some councillors wanted to see comparisons to previous rates already in place at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre. Administration pledged to provide that information by the next council meeting. The resolution on the aquatic centre rates was tabled to the next meeting by a 4-1 vote.
A third resolution up for discussion Monday concerned the operation of the Agriplex Arena on the Battlefords Ag Society grounds.
The wording of the resolution called for operations of the Agriplex Arena to continue with the use of City staff rather than contract staff, and that proposed five-year capital plan improvements be pursued in order to improve that facility. The resolution was passed as a recommendation to council by the Parks and Recreation Committee Feb. 13.
However, the motion was withdrawn Monday, mainly because councillors wanted more time to get more information and consider all the options for the future of the Agriplex.
The City has, in the past, floated the idea of allowing user groups to take over the operation of the rink, which might remove the City's responsibility for the operating costs.
The City has operated the Agriplex in conjunction with Battlefords Ag Society, and is responsible for the operation of the rink during the winter months.
Councillors, including Brad Pattinson, wanted to see a broad discussion take place.
"I'm all for the bigger, broader thought on this building," said Pattinson.
