Item - 2012.EX21.8

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the introduction of sports field permit fees for children and youth organizations in 2013 at the following rates (including HST):

a.         $6/hour for A fields;

b.         $4/hour for B fields;

c.         $2/hour for C fields; and

d.         $2/hour for dry pads.

2.         City Council request the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to undertake the steps outlined in the report (May 29, 2012) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to strengthen the City's partnership with sports organizations and to improve the quality of sports fields and report back to Council after the 2013 season. 

3.         City Council direct that the permit fees for 2014 be set through the User Fee Review process, and that any increases to the 2013 fees beyond the annual inflationary increases be phased in over time, with appropriate consultation and in a manner that allows the sports groups to adjust their fees accordingly. 

4.         City Council request the General Manager of Parks, Forestry, and Recreation to explore the option of creating a new fee for lit fields and facilities to recover a portion of the electricity costs for each lit field and report back through the User Fee Review process.

This report responds to Council's direction regarding establishing a fee structure for children and youth organizations permitting outdoor sports facilities. Additionally, this report provides a summary of the consultations held with sports organizations and the results of a comparison of Toronto's sports fields, fees, and policies with those in other municipalities.

Among other things, this report recommends the introduction of new, lower fees for the 2013 season. These new fees have been recommended at a lower rate than those introduced as part of the 2012 budget to respond to the concerns raised by many organizations about keeping children and youth sports affordable. These lower rates also acknowledge that there is work to be done to improve the quality of sports fields.

Charging a nominal fee complies with the Council-adopted User Fee Policy, which recommends a portion of the cost of a service be recovered by fees where the benefits accrue to an identifiable group and where it is possible to prevent someone from accessing the service. There has historically been a 100% subsidy for sports field permit fees for children and youth groups. This report recommends bringing that subsidy down from 100% to a level more in-line with the level of subsidy provided to children and youth groups who permit other facilities.

Charging fees has other benefits for the maintenance and utilization of sports fields as well. For example, it encourages permit holders to use these facilities efficiently, freeing up some time for other groups looking to use fields. The revenue generated from permit fees will help support the improved quality of the fields, which is a major benefit to the permit holders. Further, the City will benefit from the improved utilization data that will result when permits more accurately reflect the activity on the field.

This report also outlines several steps that will improve and strengthen the partnership between Parks, Forestry and Recreation and sports organizations who provide a valuable opportunity for children and youth to stay active and receive the benefit of sport, along with volunteering their time and resources to maintain City facilities. Parks, Forestry and Recreation will improve communication with these groups, and work with them as partners to develop a new field classification system, a new policy for dealing inclement weather, and to improve the quality of sports fields.