TOWN OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE STATEMENT ON NSRP USER AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
The Town of Rocky Mountain House is aware of the public statement posted to the Rocky Pro Rodeo Facebook page on Thursday, May 21, regarding North Saskatchewan River Park (NRSP) user agreement negotiations between Rocky Agricultural and Stampede Association (RASA) and the Town.
For the benefit of the RASA board of directors and residents of the Town of Rocky Mountain House, the following statement will outline the Town of Rocky Mountain House’s attempts to reach a mutually-satisfactory agreement to date.
The Town of Rocky Mountain House consulted with RASA and other user groups in the fall of 2019 to review the current agreement and improve the NSRP booking/managing process. It was clear that the current lease agreement, which granted RASA the right to manage bookings and operations of the rodeo grounds, was not working: the facility has evolved beyond the capacity of a volunteer board to manage. At a public meeting held Sept. 18, 2019, the then-president of RASA himself stated “something has to change.”
In response to this and community calls for a professionally-managed facility with consistent booking procedures, the Town of Rocky Mountain House presented a draft lease framework, for RASA’s consideration, on Dec. 11, 2019.
The Town of Rocky Mountan House understands that RASA, as the named recipient of the CFEP grant, is required to have guaranteed usage of the facility for a minimum of five years. We have met with the Ministry of Culture and are confident that the draft lease framework, as agreed to by both parties on Dec. 11, met this grant condition.
This framework would have satisfied the CFEP grant conditions, while also ensuring long-term stability for RASA to host the Rocky Pro Rodeo each June. However, RASA demanded additional concessions that would not have made for fair or equitable NSRP access to other user groups.
Given the approaching summer 2020 booking season and the fact that the current lease agreement has a six-month termination clause, the Town had to act quickly, prompting the notice of lease termination on January 14. The subsequent draft user agreement presented to RASA on April 8, 2020, does meet CFEP grant conditions for guaranteed usage as defined and clarified by the Ministry of Culture in an email dated March 10 to both the Town of Rocky Mountain House and RASA representatives. In particular, it outlines:
- Rocky Agriculture and Stampede Association’s right to use the facility for events at no cost or minor expenses. The draft user agreement specifies RASA would pay $1 per ticket to host the Rocky Pro Rodeo. This is no direct cost to RASA.
- The municipality’s responsibility to maintain the grounds in good working condition and in accordance with any professional standard.
- The responsibilities of each party regarding grounds and facilities being in good and safe working order, in accordance with any professional standards, upon taking possession for the event(s) and maintaining and ensuring this condition once vacating the premises.
Prior to 2019, the Town of Rocky Mountain House had invested $1.5 million into the North Saskatchewan River Park. The Town of Rocky Mountain House also recognizes the many years of volunteer and corporate sponsorship that have supported the NSRP and rodeo grounds. This is truly a community facility, and is not meant to serve a single entity or event.
The Town acknowledges RASA’s $30,000 contribution to the NSRP capital improvements in 2019, and reminds RASA that it is thanks to financial contributions and cooperation from the Town ($200,000), Clearwater County ($200,000), Rocky Mountain Chuckwagon Association ($110,000) and the Rocky Lion’s Club ($15,000), that RASA was able to secure the additional $375,484 CFEP grant.
RASA’s refusal to enter a user agreement and return the CFEP grant funding at this stage goes against the spirit of community and collaboration that has built the North Saskatchewan River Park.
The Town has received positive feedback from current and prospective users of the NSRP on the rental processes now put in place. The Town of Rocky Mountain House remains hopeful that RASA’s board of directors will reconsider the proposed user agreement that meets the CFEP grant conditions. It is our desire to maximize the use of this valuable Town facility for the benefit of our entire region. The Town of Rocky Mountain House aims to move forward in a positive manner with future bookings of the NSRP and rodeo grounds.
Related documents:
Jan. 14, 2020 news release regarding change in NSRP management
