Cold Lake residents and Portage College students can now expect more transparent, more consistent recreation fees after the city council officially formalized a long-standing verbal agreement with the college.

“For several years, the City has maintained an informal, verbal agreement with Portage College,” explained Paul McWilliams, general manager of Community Services, during the Nov. 25 regular council meeting.

Under the existing practice, Portage College pays the City for student recreation fees. In return, students receive Energy Centre memberships along with up to 30 hours of facility bookings per semester. The new memorandum of understanding (MOU) puts those long-used terms in writing.

“To ensure clarity and continuity, particularly given annual staffing changes, administration recommends formalizing this arrangement through an MOU,” McWilliams said. Portage College has requested a one-year term while it considers potential future changes to its recreation fee structure.

McWilliams also detailed how the fees vary by program. Students enrolled in shorter block programs, such as the apprentice electrician course, pay $23.54 in recreation fees. All other students pay $54.57 per semester.

Over the past four years, the arrangement has brought the City an average of $15,000 annually, with roughly 136 student memberships issued each year.

The formal MOU will outline responsibilities and benefits for both the City and Portage College, ensuring the partnership continues with clear expectations on both sides.

Council unanimously approved authorizing the City to agree.