Softball Yukon has already begun a process looking at its facilities and how accessible they are.

George Arcand, Softball Yukon’s executive director, said in an interview this morning an assessment of its facilities is underway after concerns over accessibility were brought up.

That process, he explained, is in the beginning phases, with the organization having a city building inspector look at whether the facilities are meeting current building codes.

“If it doesn’t, it will be brought up to code,” he said.

While the inspection has been done, he noted, the formal report on the inspection is not finished.

“We’re just beginning our look,” Arcand said, noting the organization will continue to work through that process.

If the National Building Code and city bylaws are being met, Softball Yukon will look at the concerns brought up and have a discussion about how to proceed from there with the concerns.

He noted the process of looking at the facilities was underway prior to last night’s council meeting, when two local residents brought forward a number of concerns about accessibility at baseball diamonds in the city.

As Bonnie Dalziel and Dianne Williams told council, for those with physical disabilities, it can be a struggle just to get from the parking lot – whether it be at the Pepsi Softball Centre or the ball diamonds on Robert Service Way – to the stands to take in a game.

Once there, there are issues around seating and getting to a washroom and/or, at the Pepsi Centre, the concession presents more difficulties. Wheelchair users are forced to try to make it across gravel terrain a long way from the stands, the two women told council. The city leases the land to Softball Yukon.

Both Dalziel, who has a prosthetic leg, and Williams pointed out that with no parking stalls designated for parking for motorists with disabilities, it becomes difficult for friends to even get their wheelchairs out of the vehicles and get to the fields.

Williams recalled her embarrassment when she and her friend – who uses a wheelchair – had to leave the complex to find a washroom.

Chains in front of the fields on Robert Service Way prevent wheelchairs from entering the area to take in a game or two, the women noted.

City planning manager Pat Ross explained later in the meeting the chains were put in place to prevent vehicles – including motorcycles – from accessing the fields and causing damage.

Dalziel said she knows many wheelchair users who “just give up” on going out to a ball game, as it’s “too onerous.”

There are many fans who would love to watch ball, but don’t go out because of the accessibility issues, council was told.

Williams was also quick to take issue with smoking in the stands.

While there are a number of no smoking signs posted at the Pepsi Softball Centre, the rule does not seem to be enforced, she said.

The delegates highlighted a number of changes that could be made to make the ball fields more accessible to those with disabilities.

They include designated parking stalls for disabled fans, accessible washrooms (even an outhouse) closer to the entry way and stands at the Pepsi Centre, hard-surfaced pathways that would make it easier for wheelchair users to get around and improved railing systems in the stands.

Later in the meeting, when a new lease for the facilities was brought forward to council, Ross said the agreement does not address improvements to accessibility at the fields. However, he noted staff would rather look at the overall issue for all city-owned sites rather than studying just one facility.

Coun. Mike Gladish suggested that in the future, as various leases come up for renewal, the city have the Persons With Disabilities Committee review the current agreement to see what could be improved on in the future lease.

The proposed lease would consolidate agreements for both the Pepsi Softball Centre and the Robert Service Way diamonds for 10 years, a period that has become the standard in city leases.

The current agreement for the diamonds on Robert Service Way isn’t set to end until 2017.

The previous lease for the Pepsi Centre ended in 2014, with Softball Yukon continuing to operate there under an over-holding clause in that lease.

“Lease considerations between the city and the (Softball Yukon) society reflect a long-standing partnership that enables the society to maintain and operate the facilities and host numerous events on behalf of the city,” Ross stated in his report to council.

“Since 1983, the Pepsi Softball Centre has consistently hosted local league play, the annual Dustball International Tournament and approximately 36 national, western Canadian and world championships.”

The new lease agreements remain consistent with other such leases the city has in stating the society will be responsible for any property taxes and water charges.

A proposed memorandum of understanding with the organization would see the city commit to providing annual municipal grants for property taxes and water and sewer charges for the period of the lease. It’s a move that comes from a resolution passed nearly 30 years ago.

As Ross explained in his report: “In 1986, council passed a resolution to exempt Softball Yukon from the requirement to pay any water and sewer charges for the Pepsi Softball Centre.

“The resolution was passed in recognition of Softball Yukon’s efforts in bringing a large number of people to the city city every year and the city not bearing any maintenance cost for the facility.

“The resolution also stated that eliminating these charges would allow all funds under the recreation grant policy to be applied to further the development of cultural and sport groups within the city of Whitehorse.

“As such, Softball Yukon has historically been receiving annual municipal grants for all water and sanitary sewer charges incurred for the Pepsi Softball Centre.”

In 2014, Softball Yukon received more than $22,776 in municipal grants covering the $9,558.71 property tax bill and $13,217.93 for the city utilities.

Council will vote on first reading of the lease next week.

Mayor Dan Curtis was absent from Monday’s meeting.