Plain City moves to raise nonresident aquatic-center fees after data shows most daily users live outside village

Plain City Council heard a parks department presentation and initial debate on proposed 2025 fee changes for the Plains City Aquatic Center, including a plan to raise nonresident daily and season fees while keeping resident season increases small.

Parks Director Miss Granger told council the department tracked daily-pass sign-ins during the busiest portion of the summer and found that roughly 20% of daily-pass users were village residents and about 80% were nonresidents. "We have about 20% of the people coming into our front door on a daily pass are residents about 80% are non residents," Granger said. She told council daily-pass revenue was about $13,500 from residents and $54,000 from nonresidents and that membership revenue was split roughly 58% residents and 42% nonresidents.

Granger said the department has not changed fees since 2020 and that operating costs — chemicals, staff wages and other inflationary pressures — have increased. She said the pool covers roughly 78% of its operating costs (excluding capital) through user fees and other revenue. To protect taxpayers and give village residents priority access, the parks department recommends a modest season-pass increase for residents (about $5) and a larger increase for nonresident season and daily rates. "We're trying to keep things fair for our residents since they are being taxed to begin with," Granger said.

Council members and staff discussed several implementation details that would affect how differential pricing works at the gate. Granger said staff is exploring practical ways to differentiate residents from nonresidents without creating delays at the front desk, including a future resident ID/card tied to utility or trash accounts. She also said pools in other nearby jurisdictions vary: some keep nonresident daily rates, others limit access to residents and their guests.

The rate changes for the aquatic center were presented as Resolution 4-2025 and received a first reading on the council agenda; council did not vote on the resolution at the meeting. Granger said parks staff will review the parks-and-recreation committee feedback and return with recommended wording on how to handle daily pass verification, priority registration for residents (for swim lessons and pool parties), and any operational limits such as a cap on daily nonresident passes.

Council members cautioned about enforcement burdens at the front desk and the political trade-offs of raising or eliminating nonresident daily access. Granger said the department will monitor attendance and revenue data in the first year of any change and return to council if adjustments are needed.

If council proceeds with the recommended increases, Granger said the department expects nonresident-fee revenue to increase; she also warned that an initial revenue decline in Year 1 is possible if some nonresidents stop coming. The item remains in committee and will return to council for further consideration.

Ending — The proposed fee changes are intended to prioritize village residents and to better align user fees with operating costs; council will receive revised language and attendant implementation plans at a future meeting before any final vote is held.