After debating the merits of setting up a local sports commission to oversee boxing and other fighting events, Red Deer City Council handed down a no decision.
Council circled the issue for some time before tabling it on Monday after several councillors expressed doubt about whether the city should be getting into the boxing game by setting up its own commission.
“I’m really struggling with why we would want to,” said Coun. Lynne Mulder.
“That’s where I am right now.”
City staff recommended a local boxing commission be established after they were asked by the governance and policy committee to identify the risk, benefits and costs.
Many Alberta municipalities have their own commissions, which are required in order to hold sanctioned combative sports events, such as boxing matches or mixed martial arts events.
Until now, Red Deer has relied on outside commissions.
However, staff said that approach limited the city’s control over events, increased liability risks, and ran counter to the way the city normally handled such issues.
Combative events are among the fastest growing sports, which means there is significant local economic development potential, council was told.
“If you choose to be in the business you have to choose how to regulate it,” said Elaine Vincent, the city’s Legislative and Governance Services Department manager.
“As a municipality responsible for risk management you need to be able to control it appropriately.”
Staff had asked for $35,000 to cover the cost of recruiting and training commission members to have a commission ready to go in 2014.
Coun. Paul Harris said he didn’t have enough information to make a decision.
Further complicating the debate were a series of written comments from members of commissions outside Red Deer who questioned why the city would bother to set up its own when there are qualified groups already in place in Alberta.
Council asked administration to come back before the end of the year with more information and outline what steps must be taken to go ahead with a commission.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com