Sunshine Coast Regional District directors received a business plan for the Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation area Oct. 20 and it calls for an increase to fees.
Last year Dakota Ridge incurred an operating loss of more than $120,000. The 2011-16 plan recommends a 20 per cent increase to fees as well as further investment into the area's trails.
Some concern was expressed around the possibility that increasing fees might result in a need for more staff to handle money and make change.
"It's the same issue we have on the docks, keeping somebody up there to get money," director Lee Turnbull said. "We're trying to find some kind of efficient system."
A parking fee of $5 has also been proposed for customers visiting the area for reasons other than snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
The report predicts an annual growth in revenue of 20 per cent over last year's totals should investments into the trails be made.
New volunteer uniforms
Local business owner Patrick Mark was praised by SCRD directors for his donation of 25 uniforms for Dakota Ridge volunteers.
The black and blue jackets will have the Dakota Ridge logo on the front, with Mountain Host printed in gold letters on the back.
Mark's donation also includes yearly maintenance and repairs.
"We'll do that every year for as long as they last," Mark said to SCRD directors. "We'll have them ready before opening season here shortly."
Towards a Coastal trail
Delegates from the Sunshine Coast Trail Society (SCTS), a group working to promote the growth and maintenance of a multi-use trail network in the Lower Sunshine Coast, were on hand to provide updates to SCRD directors.
Currently the SCTS is raising funds for their Chapman Creek crossing trail project. Of the $40,000 target, the group has raised just over half.
The SCTS is also working on the development of a Coastal trail strategy.
"The scope of the strategy is going to depend on how much money we have," said Caroline Dépatie of the SCTS.
The group was given a letter of support from the SCRD directors to aid them in their fundraising efforts.
While a degree of enthusiasm was expressed by the board, some concerns were apparent at the Oct. 20 meeting.
Director Eric Graham of Egmont / Pender Harbour said the trail concept has been a controversial one in Area A.
"We have a low population and we have a high assessment," Graham explained. "So our expenses would be high if we joined this function and the revenues for other areas get a lot more money for this."
Requesting more communication from the group was Jordan Louie, the director representing the Sechelt Indian Government District. Louie's concern centred on archaeological impacts, as some sites representing the area's First Nations legacy have yet to be located.
"If there are things that come up, please be aware of our archaeological past, as well," he requested.
The SCTS is currently seeking a $25,000 grant from Sunshine Coast Community Forest.
Pender Harbour Community School reports in
A report by the Pender Harbour Community School was praised by directors for signalling a positive turn-around for the organization compared to last year.
It details a rise in profitability for a venture that receives $40,000 in yearly funding from the SCRD.
"In my opinion, we weren't getting our bang for our buck for tax dollars," director Eric Graham said of last year's results from the community school. "They did a very bold move by laying everybody off, stopping the program and restructuring."
While the school had drawn up a balanced budget for 2011, an $11,499 surplus in the first quarter was carried over to the second ending in June. At the end of the first half of 2011, the community school held on to a $7,903 surplus.
Through the first half of the year, the school delivered 5,125 programming hours including computer lessons, first-aid, dog training and drop-in sports.
"We are trying to work collaboratively with all the different user groups and associations that we have in Pender," said Paola Stewart, a local resident hired in September to help develop programming.
"We're always trying to come up with creative ways to work with whatever resources, talents and expertise we have in the area," she added.
