The Fairview City Council held a public hearing on July 2 over Ordinance 4‑2025, which would add a park services fee to the Fairview Municipal Code. After public testimony and council debate, members voted to disapprove the ordinance but gave staff direction to increase the city’s existing public‑safety fee by amending Resolution 21‑25.

City staff told council the proposed $5 park fee was estimated to generate about $284,400 annually and that the existing public‑safety fee was estimated at $853,200; together those new fees were shown in staff materials as part of an effort to close a projected budget shortfall. With the two fees the staff’s updated projection showed a remaining shortfall of about $749,000; without the park fee the shortfall was roughly $1 million.

City Manager Paulette told the council that adopting the ordinance by itself would not immediately create charges: “Establishing this parks fee in the code tonight does not create any type of additional fees until a resolution is brought forward,” she said, noting the council sets the actual fee by resolution. Staff also presented examples of other cities’ park or multi‑service fees and discussed timing and legal limits on staff participation in outreach. A resident who spoke during the public hearing, identified in the record as Eric, urged the council to adopt a revenue source and said the manager is responsible for proposing a balanced budget.

Council discussion centered on fairness and transparency. Several councilors said they worried a narrowly labeled `park fee' would appear to obligate the city to immediate park improvements, while others argued residents understand specific fees more readily than a generic, multi‑use charge. Councilors proposed alternatives: keep separate park and public‑safety lines, create a single multi‑service fee for general fund shortfalls, or increase the current public‑safety fee and present clearer examples of what taxpayers would pay.

Following debate, the council voted not to adopt Ordinance 4‑2025. Councilors then directed staff to prepare an amendment to the public‑safety fee (Resolution 21‑25) to raise the fee from $15 to $20 per month and to return with options for fee labels, outreach materials and legal guidance on staff participation in informational events. Staff warned delaying further action would delay revenue collection and reduce near‑term receipts.

No change to the city code was implemented at the meeting; staff will return with a proposed resolution or an alternative multi‑service ordinance after working with council members and consultants.