Sports teams in Humboldt will be paying a slightly higher rate to use the city's outdoor recreational facilities. But calculating those costs for each team should now be easier.
The city has announced an across-the-board five per cent increase for all users in 2011. At the field user's annual general meeting on April 6, City of Humboldt recreation director Darrell Lessmeister explained that such an increase "has been normal for the past several years."
Lessmeister noted that the city used to charge the various Humboldt sports leagues for use of the fields on a per-game basis, but "that didn't work very well," especially if games were postponed or cancelled. So instead, teams will now be charged a lump sum at the beginning of the season. That sum will be based on the number of teams in the league, and on the age of the respective players.
For instance, leagues in minor ball, soccer and other activities whose players are aged 10 and under will be charged $60.76 per team for the entire season, plus five per cent GST for a total of $64.16. Leagues for players aged 11-18 will be charged $91.17 per team, for a total of $95.73 including GST. Adult activities (aged 19 and up) will be charged at a rate of $173.65 per team, for a total of $182.34 including GST.
Special event usage also went up by five percent. Special events will be charged at a rate of $64.16 (including GST) for youth and minor activities, including participants up to age 18, and at a rate of $95.73 (including GST) for adult activities. Out of town commercial activities will be charged $182.34 (including GST) for field usage.
Lessmeister noted the city's fees for field usage "are in line with other like-sized communities."
