Canal Winchester council adopts higher nonresident rental rates for city facilities

Canal Winchester City Council on Monday adopted an amendment to its facility rental ordinance that raises nonresident (Class 2) rates for several city-owned facilities.

Council amended Ordinance 25-022 to set Class 2 (nonresident) rates at twice the Class 1 (resident) amounts for the community center, the Interurban Station and the three-season (Peggywood) pavilion. The amendment passed on a roll call of four in favor, two opposed; the full ordinance was then adopted by the same margin.

The amendment was moved and seconded from the dais; Council Member Moore made the motion to amend and Council Member Shea seconded. On the amendment roll call Moore, Shea, Bennett and McLaughlin voted yes; Missus Amick and Buskirk voted no. On final adoption the same members voted yes and no, producing a 4–2 result.

City staff told council the changes are meant to simplify weekend bookings and recover additional labor and cleanup costs tied to short, fragmented rentals. City Administrator Matt Peebles and staff analyst Ms. McPherson provided rental-use data: for a recent reporting period the community center had 110 rentals (64 by residents, 46 by nonresidents) and the Wood Pavilion had 67 rentals (37 residents, 30 nonresidents). Ms. McPherson told council "doubling that non resident rate would be the best 1 for at this time" to address administrative complexity and cost recovery.

Council and staff also debated block booking, a change that will require weekend rentals to be reserved in seven-hour blocks. Staff said the block system is intended to reduce overtime call-ins and cleanup costs tied to many short weekend rentals and will be evaluated after implementation. Council members discussed options including a resident discount, separate weekday/weekend schedules and testing the new structure over a holiday season before adjusting rates further.

The ordinance as amended changes specific hourly/daily rates in the city code: the community center's nonresident weekend block moved from $80 to $100 (with the resident rate remaining at $50 in the ordinance language), Interurban Station nonresident moved from $60 to $80, and the three-season (Peggywood) pavilion nonresident moved from $50 to $60. Staff said rates and the new block booking structure will be monitored and revisited if unintended consequences (for example, lost revenue or reduced bookings) appear.

The council discussion included concerns about fairness to residents, possible lost revenue if nonresidents stop booking, administrative burden of changing rates midseason, and the effect of future facilities such as the library on demand. Staff said they have historical reservation data and will continue to provide usage numbers to council.

The ordinance takes effect in 30 days unless otherwise specified in the ordinance language.