Ogden council adopts fees, approves $161,625 budget increase for Marshall N. White Community Center

The Ogden City Council adopted a new fee ordinance for the Marshall N. White Community Center on a roll-call vote Tuesday and approved a companion budget amendment that increases expected revenues and operating expenses by $161,625 to cover initial staffing and supplies ahead of the center’s opening.

City recreation staff, led by Justin Anderson and Ginger Myers, presented the proposed fees and membership structure and answered council and public questions during a public hearing. Justin Sorenson presented the related budget amendment and said the appropriation covers part-time staffing for pool and operations, chemicals, utilities and small operating items for the coming months.

Anderson said the center will hold a ribbon-cutting and community open house May 22 at 5 p.m. and that the facility’s proposed daily and pass fees were developed with financial consultants as part of a facility operations review. The schedule includes resident and nonresident rates with nonresidents assessed a 30% surcharge on many items. Anderson said a full-pool rental during operating hours would be $300, with a half-pool rental at $150 per hour and three north-side swim lanes offered at $15 per lane per hour. Indoor meeting rooms and fitness spaces were proposed at $35 per hour, the kitchen at $50 per hour, and gym half-court use at $25 per hour (full court $100 per hour).

Myers, identified in the presentation as assistant director of recreation, explained program fee waivers and deposits: a fee-reduction application may reduce fees by up to 50 percent, and rental deposits would be $50 for fewer-than-50-person events and $150 for larger events (refundable). She also told council the public services executive director would have authority to enter contracts to establish corporate rates and to work with insurance billing administrators for fitness benefit programs such as Renew Active and SilverSneakers.

Sorenson said the budget amendment increases Marshall White revenue projections and matching operating expense lines by $161,625 to record estimated revenues and to pay near-term operating costs. He said the city used projections provided by the consultants and that the appropriation funds two months of expected activity for opening and initial operations.

During public comment residents raised affordability and access concerns. Laurie Lewis questioned charging for outdoor pickleball with lights and asked how the city would ensure fair access. Betty Sawyer urged clearer, income-driven pricing and said she wanted time to review the fee package. Multiple speakers supported keeping the center accessible and noted the fee-reduction application for income-qualified households.

Council member Graff moved to adopt the ordinance (Proposed Ordinance 2025-10) to amend Ogden Municipal Code fees for the Marshall N. White Community Center; Council member Blair seconded. The council approved the fee ordinance on a roll-call vote with Council members Chibburka, Graff, Myers, Ritchie, Blair, Vice Chair Hyer and Chair White recording “Aye.”

Council member Graff then moved to adopt the supporting budget ordinance (Proposed Ordinance 2025-11) to increase the FY budget by $161,625 for Marshall White; Council member Ritchie seconded. The council approved that ordinance on a roll-call vote with the same recorded “Aye” votes.

City staff said the fees include daily admissions (adult $10; youth $6 for ages over 2; senior daily $7), monthly passes (family $60; adult $32; youth $25; senior $25) and annual passes (family $600; adult $320; youth $250; senior $250). Staff said additional program fees (for example, pottery, cooking or swim lessons) may carry separate charges; nonresidents pay a 30 percent surcharge. Myers said the fee-reduction application may reduce program costs by up to 50 percent for qualifying households and that the city will accept one application per family for multiple program enrollments.

The ordinance includes a provision authorizing a CPI review effective July 1, 2026, so council may revisit the schedule at that time. Staff noted that hours of operation are proposed to be 6 a.m.–9 p.m. and that programming and hours may be adjusted after the opening based on demand.

The council’s action authorizes the fee schedule and the short-term budget increase; it does not change future council oversight of fees or annual budget processes. The center’s open house is scheduled for May 22 and a public opening for the facility was announced for May 23 at noon.