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Kalispell staff outline proposed parks and recreation fee changes; council to consider schedule for formal action
Summary
City staff presented a revised parks and recreation fee schedule and a remodeled park-reservation matrix, citing higher operating costs and proposed school-district facility fees. Council signaled support to bring the proposal back for action at a future meeting; several council members and residents discussed scholarships and donation options.
City of Kalispell staff on April 28 presented proposed updates to recreation program fees and the park-reservation matrix, saying rising operating costs and proposed fees from School District 5 have increased the city’s per-program costs.
Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher described a two-part review used to set fees: a direct cost analysis (licensing, rentals, equipment, supplies) and a market comparison with similar local and regional programs. Fincher said the department incorporated the district’s proposed facility charges into its cost models and that increases “range from 8 to 20% depending on the program.”
The department proposed an 8% across-the-board increase for pool admission for the coming year and said it has identified management efficiencies to reduce staffing costs without reducing public access. Fincher said rising chemical, gas and electric costs remain a driver of higher pool operating expenses; he said, by the department’s estimate, recouping full pool operating costs would require much higher per-person charges than current rates allow.
On park reservations, staff described work to reformat a previously complex sliding-scale matrix so it can be processed by the city’s online registration software. Fincher said the remodel mostly preserves existing pricing patterns but that a small number of bookings could pay more under the new matrix; staff ran last year’s rentals through the proposed schedule and found one large reunion that would pay several hundred dollars more but that, in practice, organizers could reduce their booked block from seven to six hours and remain within prior-year costs.
Council members asked several operational questions. Councilmember Fisher pressed for more detail on the school-district charge; Fincher said the district’s proposals were not yet adopted by the school board and that staff had been told any implementation would include some leeway to fit municipal budgeting timelines. When asked whether the general fund would otherwise cover the difference, City Manager Doug Russell said there is an historic general-fund transfer that supports parks but that overall property taxes would be a likely backstop if fees were not increased.
Councilmembers also discussed scholarship and donation options. Fincher said the department already operates a scholarship line funded largely from program photography revenue and that the scholarship follows School District 5’s free- and reduced-lunch eligibility for awards. Councilmember Graham and others urged outreach to local businesses and asked whether the city could offer an opt-in “round up” on payments; Russell said the city has generally avoided active solicitation but that the governing body could direct staff to add an opt-in donation feature to online payments.
Public comment was mixed but generally supportive of some fundraising options. Resident Arthur Fredheim said he liked the optional roundup idea and described Woodland Park Pool and other programs as valuable community resources.
No formal vote was taken. Staff said they will bring the formal fee schedules and the revised reservation matrix back to council for action during a future agenda item or the budget workshops.
