Westerner Park board of directors will consider this week raising parking fees by one-third in 2012 to compensate increasing costs.
Chief Executive Officer John Harms said Tuesday the board will consider several initiatives to offset growing operating costs, including increasing parking rates to $4 from $3. He would not comment on the options the board will consider during an in-camera discussion on Thursday.
“Utility costs are a big one,” he said when asked why a parking increase is being considered. “Our electricity costs have almost doubled in the last four months. That’s just the market price for electricity these days.”
Parking revenue helps cover operating and capital expansion expenses, Harms said.
A newsletter was sent out to perspective volunteers for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts this week that stated parking at Westerner Park will be $4 per entry in January.
It also said an unlimited parking pass for tournament volunteers has been negotiated by the host committee for $50, which is $30 cheaper than an unlimited event parking pass for spectators. Volunteers will not be required to purchase the pass, but will have to pay the Westerner Park fee if they wish to park onsite, the newsletter continued.
A representative from the Scotties Tournament of Hearts declined comment on Tuesday. The Canadian women’s curling championship will be held at Westerner Park from Feb. 18 to 26.
Harms would only say nothing has been confirmed and that the Westerner Park Board of Directors will examine the 2012 operating budget on Thursday night.
Westerner Park began charging for parking over two years ago.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com