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Parks and Recreation proposes fee changes, including community center entrance fee and reduced passes for students on free/reduced lunch
Summary
Parks and Recreation staff presented proposed fee adjustments to offset rising operating costs, including a plan to charge or formalize community center entrance fees and to offer a 50% membership discount to youth who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Parks and Recreation staff presented proposed fee adjustments and policy changes to respond to rising operating costs and to improve cost recovery for programs and facilities.
Director Chris told the council the department benchmarked fees against 10 comparable community centers and found most charge for center access; Warrensburg’s community center currently offers free general access. The proposal includes instituting or formalizing an entrance fee structure that would preserve current day-pass prices (example figures cited in the packet: $5 for youth/seniors; $7 for adults) while expanding membership and scholarship options.
Staff highlighted cost drivers including a roughly $5.55 increase in minimum wage since 2020 (a cited 59% increase when comparing 2020 to projected 2026 wage levels), rising debt-service costs tied to past capital projects (the memo listed current debt service around $270,000 annually and projected to grow to over $430,000 by 2033), and increasing food costs for the summer meal program (noted to add more than $50,000 to next year’s expenses). Parks staff said they will expand the scholarship/assistance program so low-income youth can access memberships; the proposal would give a 50% discount on monthly and annual passes for youth who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Chris also noted a new child-care-specific three-hour day pass category and clarified that membership enrollment is an objective — with staff estimating current membership at roughly 700 people — because memberships provide better value to frequent users and increase predictable revenue.
Park Board has approved the fee schedule and policy recommendations and will forward them into the city budget process; staff said fee changes are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 following budget approval and timing of the activity guide publication.
Council asked clarifying questions about specific passes and eligibility; staff said final budget and formal council adoption of fees will come later in the budget process.
