Fountain Hills council asks staff to return with uniform nonprofit fee plan, recommends 50% local discount and $30 ancillaries

Fountain Hills town council on Monday used a work session to press staff for a simpler, uniform approach to community center fees for local nonprofit organizations and to direct staff to return to the council with a formal proposal for a vote in October.

Staff presentations by Community Services Director Kevin Snipes and Town staffer Paul Soledinger showed a long history of inconsistent discounts and ad hoc arrangements that staff said are hard to administer. Snipes said the discussion was “solely discussing our nonprofits and our local nonprofits specifically,” and proposed a menu of options that staff said would all increase revenue relative to the current, uneven practice if rental volumes stay the same.

The council’s goal, several members said, is fairness and predictability for renters and staff. Council members agreed to ask staff to bring back an ordinance or council item for the Oct. 7 meeting recommending a three‑year, 50% discount for resident local nonprofits and a flat ancillary fee for audiovisual/coffee/typical extras; council members proposed $30 for ancillary items (staff had recommended $25). If the council adopts the item, staff recommended an effective date of Jan. 1 to allow groups time to plan.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the community center is heavily used and that inconsistent or…