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Junction City council approves small pool-fee changes, directs deeper review for fall
Summary
Council approved a modest fee change and a related resolution after extended discussion about long-term funding and equity. Staff will return with comparative rates and a fuller plan later in the year.
Junction City councilors on Tuesday approved a resolution to implement a modest increase in pool fees proposed by city staff but asked for a fuller comparative review and a plan for next year.
Staff described the fee package as a hybrid approach: a roughly 10% increase for standard daily admissions (rounded to the nearest quarter) and a larger increase for some pool rentals (from about $60 to $100 per hour), while preserving swim-team rates. The city has not raised pool rates systemwide since 2014, staff said, and rising chemical, maintenance and lifeguard costs prompted the proposal.
Council and community members debated how much to increase fees, with several councilors and residents warning that large increases could make the pool unaffordable for families and single parents, while others said doing nothing would require more general-fund subsidies. Several speakers asked staff to compile comparative rates ("comps") from nearby pools and produce a more complete revenue/expense analysis.
Staff recommended adopting the current incremental change for the season so the pool can open on schedule, and to bring a fuller set of comps and options to a fall work session (staff proposed September after the local festival). Council agreed to approve the immediate fee change now while directing staff to return with comparative pricing, options for discounts or assistance for low-income families, and a longer-term plan for covering materials-and-services costs.
The council recorded a motion to approve Resolution 3 (the pool-fee resolution), the motion passed unanimously, and councilors said they expect staff to return with more detailed analysis on the revenue impacts and equity options before next season.
