Maricopa council directs staff to combine resident and nonprofit rental rates, recalculate nonresident surcharge

Mayor Smith led a city council work session July 25 during which staff and council members spent more than an hour debating changes to the proposed Maricopa facility rental policy, including who qualifies for discounts and how far in advance spaces can be reserved.

Shane Stone, the police executive administrator and the staff presenter, said the draft is “intended to be an iterative policy” and is meant to govern routine facility rentals when a contract or memorandum of understanding is not in place. Stone summarized the draft’s main points: discounted rates for residents and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits, a proposed nonresident surcharge set at 125% of the base rate, and standard administrative requirements such as insurance, deposits and liability for damages.

Council discussion centered on three questions: whether nonprofits should receive discounts only for public events; whether businesses that pay city taxes should receive the same discount as residents and nonprofits; and whether the 125% nonresident rate was high enough to shift…