AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2020-14, on the second of two readings, adopting fees to be charged by the City for various Parks and Recreation Facilities, including changes to existing fees; providing a savings clause; providing for the repeal of any conflicting provisions; and providing and effective date.
Body
Meeting date: April 7, 2020
Department: Parks and Recreation
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Funds Available: N/A
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Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: City Council adopted a Fee Policy on June 4, 2019.
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Background Information:
November 6, 2019: Cost Recovery Work Session
• Presentation by Melissa Neel and Drew Wells
• Provided the proposed assumptions in finalizing cost recovery implementation for Parks and Recreation Programs and Services.
• Council direction was to move forward with taking the proposed assumptions to the
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for their recommendation.
December 19, 2020: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting
• The Board created a committee to review the proposed fees and to bring back a
recommendation to the Board.
January 13, 2020: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting
• The Board received the committee’s recommendations and adopted a Recommendation
Resolution recommending the proposed fees within this presentation.
February 18, 2020: Cost Recovery Work Session Update
• City Council requested that staff evaluate the Non-Profit fee further and provide options.
• City Council provided consensus on the following:
o Change the qualifying age for the senior discount to 60 years of age, instead of the proposed 65 years of age.
o Increase the Non-Resident Rental Rates another 5% of the proposed rate.
Non-Profit Rate Evaluation
Staff evaluated the rental fee structures of eight (8) peer cities to determine if a Non-Profit rate was part of their structure. Cities evaluated were: Austin, Bryan, Buda, Cedar Park, College Station, Hutto, Kyle and Leander. Of the cities evaluated the City of Hutto was the only city that offered a Non-Profit rate for facility rentals. The rentals are specific in location (park pavilions & The Saul House) and duration. The rate charged is half of the Resident Rate.
Staff still recommends that Non-Profits receiving Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Funding or Human Services Grants for the provision of social
and human services/programs have facility rental fees waived up to 9 times per
month. It is recommended that facility rental fees be waived when the non-profit is
utilizing the facility to provide social and human services or programs to the
community, and not for fundraising or similar events. The reservation process would be unchanged and would remain subject to availability.
Staff has prepared incremental options for the Council to consider if the Non-Profit rate is desired to be kept. It is attached for your consideration and review.
Proposed Fee Changes
In an effort to simplify the number of fee categories the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved a recommendation that would make the following changes:
• Remove the fee categories of:
• Non-Profit
• Business/Commercial
• Senior Spouse (will only have Senior rate)
• Only have categories for Resident, Non-Resident, Senior and Youth
• Increase the qualifying age for the senior discount from 50 to 65.
• Incremental Increases are proposed and reflected in the exhibit attached.
An effective date of September 1, 2020 for all new fees is proposed. If anyone has a current facility rental those agreements would be grandfathered in under the previous fee structure.
Patrons with current Activity Center Memberships will pay the fee that is in effect at the time of their membership expiration.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
January 13, 2020: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved a Recommendation Resolution recommending the proposed fees to the City Council.
Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
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