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Council told of $15 hourly group fee for Memorial Stadium; staff reports improved Harrah's outlook, muni losses and billing irregularities
Summary
Staff proposed a new $15 per hour group fee for Memorial Stadium and briefed council on enterprise fund updates: Harrah's enterprise fund's event revenue shortfall narrowed to under $100,000, the municipal golf course (Muni) may require a $350,000 general fund subsidy next year, and water meter replacement and manual reads have caused irregular b
At the budget work session staff proposed a $15 per hour fee for organized groups reserving Memorial Stadium and provided enterprise fund updates covering Harrah's, the municipal golf course (Muni), and water billing irregularities tied to the meter replacement program.
Tony McDowell told council the Parks and Recreation Department is proposing a $15‑per‑hour group fee at the newly reconstructed Memorial Stadium to manage reservations and utilization; staff described the fee as modest and intended for organized group use, not casual walking. Council asked staff to clarify messaging so the public understands the fee applies to organized group reservations, not general public use of the track.
Budget staff updated the council on the Harrah's enterprise fund, saying earlier projected event‑cancellation losses had narrowed after two weeks of strong events (including a recent collegiate championship), and staff now expect under $100,000 in revenue loss compared with prior multi‑million estimates. Staff credited recent events for improving the outlook but said Harrah's is still in recovery.
On municipal recreation, staff reported roughly a $350,000 projection for the golf course (Muni) loss that the general fund may have to cover next year due to storm damage and prolonged repairs; portions of the course remain under construction and staff said they are reviewing operations and options for revenue recovery. Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas said staff are prioritizing self‑sustaining, revenue‑generating assets in recovery planning.
On water meter replacement and billing, staff said the meter replacement project is about 50% complete and that a mix of manual reads and new meters has led to irregular billing cycles; customers sometimes see consecutive monthly bills or long gaps between bills because of the transition. Staff advised customers to contact customer service for account questions and said they are working toward more consistent monthly billing as meters are installed.
Staff recommended proceeding with the Memorial Stadium group fee and said they will confirm whether a similar group fee had been in place prior to the stadium renovation and will include the Memorial fee in the April fee adoption package if council agrees.
