Winter ice rates at the Brainerd Civic Center will be $115 per hour for both rinks.
The Brainerd City Council Monday unanimously approved the rate increases. Last year the fees for the Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association were $85 per hour for the Gold Medal Arena and $110 for the civic center; $110 per hour for Vacationland Figure Skating Club; and $99 per hour for miscellaneous rented hours. The Brainerd School District is not included in the fee increase because it has a separate contract with the city.
In a memo to the Personnel and Finance Committee, council member Bob Olson noted that if rates were increased to $115 for all renters revenue would increase $22,763 over 2007.
During the Personnel and Finance Committee meeting earlier Monday, BAHA President Bob Joyce said the increase for the civic center rink was reasonable but his group was opposed to the Gold Medal Arena increase because BAHA has put significant time and money into that rink.
"We are the only users who have put any improvements in that rink," Joyce said.
Council member and Personnel and Finance Committee Chairman Mark O'Day said BAHA has had a discount since the Gold Medal Arena has opened but has not completed all improvements. He said he would rather see the city use the revenues to complete the improvements.
Though he was in favor of the increases, council member Kevin Goedker said there should be increased service for the groups paying increased fees.
"My concern would be: Are we going to defeat the purpose of trying to increase revenue by putting users in a position where they have to cut back on hours?" Goedker asked. "Just move cautiously with it."
The winter ice rental increases were the second step by the city in changing the way the arena was managed and operated. The first step happened at the council's June 9 meeting with the creation of a seven-member oversight committee for the arenas.
The council on Monday unanimously approved appointing council members O'Day and Olson to the committee for one-year terms or until their council terms end, whichever comes first.
A motion by Olson to have Shelly Trimble appointed to the committee to represent dry floor events failed by a 5-2 vote, with only Olson and council member Kevin Goedker voting in favor. Olson sought Trimble for the committee because outside of the two council members she would be the only Brainerd taxpayer.
Along with Olson and O'Day, the committee includes Joyce, a Vacationland Figure Skating Club representative, Brainerd Lakes Chamber Chief Executive Officer Lisa Paxton to represent dry floor events, Carrie Grillo with Minnesota Hockey Camps and Brainerd Community Education Director Todd Lyscio.
Several council members disagreed with Olson's motion to include Trimble because it would create an eight-member committee, dry floor events were already represented by Paxton and the addition went against the June 9 council direction creating the committee.
O'Day noted the committee will not be spending city money, only making recommendations to the full city council.
"The more we have the more cumbersome it becomes," O'Day said. "I just don't see a good reason for it."
Council member Bonnie Cumberland said another person could be added at a later date if needed.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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