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Committee debates Oakdale Park electricity fee, smart‑meter option and permitting steps
Summary
The finance committee heard from Oakdale Park organizers about a proposed flat electricity fee and discussed alternatives including a smart meter, permit needs and cost responsibilities; no fee change was finalized and staff follow‑up was requested.
Organizers seeking to operate programming at Oakdale Park asked the committee to approve a modest monthly fee to cover electricity at a small clubhouse/outdoor venue and to clarify responsibilities for installation and permits.
Kelly, an organizer and applicant for Oakdale Park programming, said she would accept a flat $3.50 per month fee for use of electricity, and that she is willing to reimburse any usage beyond an agreed baseline. Kelly offered to work with city staff on a contingency to cover excessive usage and said she had installed equipment at her own expense that she believes benefits the park.
Committee members and staff suggested alternatives and next steps. Several members recommended installing a smart meter so the city and the organizer would have exact usage data rather than estimated billings. Staff and a committee member advised the applicant to contact code enforcement and the city electrician about required permits and engineering plans; committee discussion cited a likely installation cost range for electrical work of roughly $2,000–$2,500 if a permit and contractor are required.
Insurance and liability also came up: John, during the discussion, asked whether the organizer is required to carry insurance; the applicant said she carries a $3,000,000 policy for her programming. Committee members asked that the youth‑department staff member (Crystal) and the department head (Liz, referenced) be consulted to finalize how fees and monitoring will be handled.
Result: the committee did not adopt a fee ordinance during the session. Members asked staff to confirm the proposed fee language with the city youth department, check with code enforcement about permitting, and consider a smart‑meter option; staff will report back at the next meeting.
Quote: Kelly, the Oakdale Park organizer, said she was "happy to pay $3.50 a month" and added she would cover usage beyond the baseline if monitoring showed higher consumption.
Next steps: staff to confirm permit requirements with code enforcement, consult the youth department on administration and confirm whether a smart meter is appropriate and who will bear installation costs.
