Park commission raises Ralphs Park dog-park annual user fee to $30

The West Bend Park and Recreation Commission voted Thursday to raise the annual user fee for the dog park inside Ralphs Park from $25 to $30, citing rising maintenance costs and funds needed for planned upgrades and expansion.

Commissioners and staff said the dog-park user fees pay only for items inside the fenced dog-park area — fences, on-site amenities and contracted maintenance — and not for park property maintained by the city. Mike, a Park and Recreation staff member, said, “These fees are only used for the dog park itself,” and that the fee historically generated about $13,500 to $18,000 a year, while annual operating costs have been between $10,000 and $12,000.

Staff reported the dog-park account holds about $58,000 and that recent and planned maintenance includes replacing worn components in the park’s solar lighting (an 8,000–$10,000 project this year) and routine items such as contracted mowing and portable restrooms. Staff also noted recurring operating costs for dog-waste bags are substantial: Mike told the commission the department expects to spend between $8,000 and $10,000 on dog-waste bags next year.

Commission discussion highlighted enforcement and collection challenges. Currently the user-fee system is an honor system: volunteers check tags and earlier volunteers collected fees and turned them in. Mike said the city’s finance office now handles collections and mailing of tags, but the commission discussed longer-term options such as electronic access (key fobs or collar tags) and the staffing and electrical limitations the park presents (no permanent electrical service at the site). Staff emphasized any technology change would require coordination with the finance department and decisions about who would manage and maintain the system.

The motion to increase the fee to $30 passed on a voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call or an exact tally; the motion was moved and seconded in the meeting record. Staff said the updated application and tags will be produced and mailed for the 2025 season and that volunteers and the canine-group contact, Pam, will be notified of the change.

The commission also discussed outreach and visibility of how fees are used, including the possibility of a community fundraising event and showing residents specific project priorities (for example, a new fenced area or expanded parking) to encourage compliance and voluntary payment.