Kids who play hockey and their parents are worried about a proposal to hike user fees for the City of Ottawa's arenas to help fill a $35-million hole in the budget.

"It's going to cause a lot of hardships for a lot of families who just make ends meet, but want their kids to play hockey," Lana Muldoon said Wednesday night while watching her 10-year-old son Josh Muldoon play at the Manotick Arena. "Something else will have to give."

City of Ottawa staff tabled the 2009 draft budget Tuesday, including suggestions for ways the city could address a $35-million budget shortfall. In addition to increased user fees, staff suggested cuts to health and social services, arts programs and hundreds of jobs.

Coming off the ice from a match between the Osgoode-Rideau peewees and the Almonte-Packenham peewees, Josh Muldoon said he fears there won't be as many people playing hockey if fees for ice time go up.

Meanwhile, in a room on the second floor of the building, overlooking the rink, city manager Kent Kirkpatrick and Coun. Glenn Brooks were meeting with local residents for the first of many consultations on the City of Ottawa's 2009 draft budget. Brooks said funding for some city programs needs to be reduced.

"They're unaffordable, they're unsustainable, they're not a top priority."

More consultations will be held until Nov. 27. Council will also hear from public delegations on Dec. 1-2 and, if necessary, Dec. 3 before approving the final budget by Dec. 5.