Some user fees are getting bumped up at the Dakota Ridge Recreation Area, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) community services committee decided July 11.
The new admission fee schedule - which is yet to be ratified by the board -includes 25 per cent increases for adult day ski passes (from $12 to $15) and family day ski passes (from $24 to $30). Adult season ski passes will rise by 17 per cent (from $120 to $140) and family season ski passes by 21 per cent (from $240 to $290).
The prices for youth ski passes remain unchanged at $6 for a day pass and $60 for a season pass, but senior day ski passes will go up by 11 per cent, from $9 to $10.
For less expensive snowshoeing passes, increases include 60 per cent for a youth day pass (from $2.50 to $4) and 33 per cent each for an adult day pass (from $6 to $8), senior day pass (from $4.50 to $6) and family day pass (from $12 to $16).
Season passes for snowshoeing will go up by 25 per cent for families (from $120 to $150), 25 per cent for youth (from $24 to $30), 19 per cent for seniors (from $42 to $50) and 17 per cent for adults (from $60 to $70).
No fee for children was recommended for the coming year, although area directors and the Dakota Ridge advisory committee have discussed introducing one.
The higher rate of increase for snowshoe users did not sit well with Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar, who voted against the recommendation.
Shugar compared the unchanged price for a youth day ski pass to the significant increase for a youth day snowshoe pass, which staff incorrectly reported at the meeting as 38 per cent.
"It makes no sense to me," Shugar said. "I find it very odd that it would go up to that extent."
Staff said one reason for the recommended price hikes was to make it easier for volunteers to collect fees on the hill without issuing change. Proposed prices are still below regional competitors, staff also noted.
The new user fees, staff said, are expected to offset some of the operating costs from this year's planned ski trail expansion and previous years' snowshoe trail expansion and increased grooming.
"I'm a snowshoer and I won't be buying a season pass because I don't use it that much," Shugar said. "You've lost one customer for a season pass right off the bat."
The committee did accept Shugar's recommendation to include a 10 per cent early bird discount in the new fee bylaw.
Gibsons alternate director Lee Ann Johnson, who also voted against the motion, said she found it puzzling that no fee is charged to children. That omission, she said, is "setting a pattern for the most elitist, expensive sport to be free."
Pender Harbour/Egmont director Frank Mauro said he didn't see any issue with charging a moderate fee for children.
"Most of them probably come up with family passes anyway. But I do think youth should have all the advantages," Mauro said, but the committee did not adopt his suggestion to drop the youth day snowshoe pass to $3.
The committee agreed to take another look at children and youth fees for the 2014/15 season. The recommendation will be brought back to the board on July 25.
User fees for Dakota Ridge went up by about 20 per cent in 2011, in keeping with the business plan adopted that year, which called for another 20 per cent increase after trail expansion occurs.
