Monday, 3 February 2014

SUMA: Regional Recreation Collaboration

Sunday afternoon started with a good discussion of how other regions are working together to enhance their quality of life and make strategic investments towards the sustainability of their communities and regions.

What follows are some of the highlights:

Swift Current

  • A couple of the communities have 50% cost recovery of their recreation facilities.
  • Swift Current imposed non-resident fees with three outcomes:
    • rural municipalities were offended,
    • tourists were affected,
    • regional collaboration slowed
      • the non-resident fees were removed in less than a year.

Brooks/County of Newell AB

  • Strong personal relationships were leveraged to strengthen county and municipal relationships.
  • Intentionally worked to break down barriers and municipal boundaries:
    • used inclusive events for the region,
    • communities started recognizing and hosting other communities at local events.
    • tours of the local region.
  • Developed regional recreation agreements:
    • all arena schedules are coordinated,
    • a village arena was converted to a field house.
  • The County provides a million dollars per year for communities to enhance their programs or facilities and it can be spent on capital or operations.

White City/Town of Balgonie

  • Developed the White Butte Planning Committee with voluntary participation.
  • Trying to develop a regional trail system including Regina.
  • Regina shares both capital and operational costs.
  • There is revenue sharing.
  • Fees for all facilities in the region are the same.
  • When non-residents of Regina register for Regina programs they have to wait for Regina residents to full the clay.

Gull Lake and Region

  • Gull Lake, two Rural Municipalities and an hamlet cost share a recreation director position.
  • Losses on the pool in Gull Lake are split 50/50 between Gull Lake and the RMs
  • A per capita levy is imposed by the partners to be reinvested in recreation
  • Smaller communities don't have the resources, the critical mass of tax revenue, to provide the same facilities and programs as cities

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