Council voted to extend a city policy that grants staff discount pool passes to themselves, RCMP and volunteer firefighters.
The city’s health & wellness policy grants 50 per cent discounts on six-month and one-year passes to the aquatic centre and arena to city staff and their families.
That privilege will now be granted to city councillors, volunteer firefighters and RCMP officers, following a council vote last Tuesday, Mar. 22.
Councillor Aaron Orlando, who chairs the city’s parks, recreation & culture committee, said the discount was extended to city staff a few years ago, and it lead to increased revenue due to more people buying passes. “It is a successful program,” he said.
Coun. Linda Nixon supported the proposal. “I encourage council to open it up… and encourage people to get out and have a healthy outlet and increase those numbers,” said Nixon.
Coun. Connie Brothers questioned whether it was fair to give the discount to city employees, and not the rest of the public.
“Is it appropriate for us to single out the city employees and say it’s important for them to have this consideration, but we don’t do it for the rest of the community?” she asked.
To that, Laurie Donato, the city’s director of parks, recreation & culture, replied that the discounts are available to any workplace with a health & wellness policy.
“Any business with an employee health and wellness program, we offer discounted passes to,” said Donato.
City, school district to meet on Mountain View
Revelstoke council asked city staff to meet with representatives from the Revelstoke school district about the Mountain View site.
“I would like to ask staff to follow up with the school board to have a meeting and look at a public information session on that piece of land,” said councillor Linda Nixon during the Mar. 22 meeting of council.
Nixon’s request, which was supported by the rest of council, came after the Review reported the city and school district were at odds over plans for the old school site. The school district proposed a re-zoning that would allow for single-family lots, while the city would like to see the site zoned for multi-family development.
Complicating things is the fact Community Connections is eyeing the site for a new building.
“I want to make sure that Community Connections, as one of the partners interested in this piece of land, gets included in the discussions going forward,” said Nixon.
Council ask for cost of lighting up bridge
Revelstoke council is considering a proposal by the City of Revelstoke’s Enhancement Committee to light up the Columbia River Bridge.
Council unanimously supported a motion to explore the possibility and costs of placing lights on the Trans-Canada Highway bridge over the river, but there was a strong feeling that once the costs come in, it won’t be feasible.
“I think we’re going to see a big surprise come back with capital costs and operating costs,” said councillor Linda Nixon.
Coun. Aaron Orlando agreed. “What’s going to help me make a decision is the result of part three, when the cost comes back,” he said.
A staff report says the enhancement committee members are of the opinion the proposal will “make the entrance to the community more attractive and potentially encourage more visitors to stop in the community, which enhances the economic viability of the community.”
