Fountain Hills council approves temporary pause on nonprofit community-center fees until Sept. 9

The Fountain Hills Town Council voted 6-1 on a motion to pause the town's recently enacted nonprofit pricing structure for the community center through Sept. 9, applying the suspension only to reservations made for dates between now and that deadline.

Rachel (town staff) told the council the item was brought at the direction of Mayor Bridal in response to feedback from local nonprofit organizations and community members. "The item is being presented tonight at the direction of Mayor Bridal in response to recent feedback received from local nonprofit organizations and community members regarding the community center fee schedule," Rachel said. She said the proposed pause "would essentially suspend it through September 9, and it would only apply to reservations taking place between now and that date." Rachel also said there would be no staff presentation or additional data at the special meeting and that a full review and discussion is scheduled for a Sept. 9 work-study session.

The council first approved a consent agenda earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote. For the pause on nonprofit pricing, the roll-call vote was: Council member Earl, yes; Vice Mayor Skilcorn, no; Council member McMahon, yes; Council member Kalavianakis, yes; Council member Watts, yes; Council member Larrabee, yes; Mayor Bridal, yes. The mayor announced the tally as "6-1." The motion on the pause was described on the record as a suspension of the enacted nonprofit pricing structure until Sept. 9; the transcript does not name the individual mover or seconder of that motion.

Council members and staff did not present additional data at the special meeting. The pause is procedural: council instructed staff to hold existing reservations under the previous nonprofit pricing while council and staff prepare a comprehensive review at the Sept. 9 work-study session. The council explicitly limited public discussion for this special meeting; no public comments on the agenda items were taken.

The vote to pause is limited in time and scope as stated on the record: it applies to reservations taking place between now and Sept. 9 and suspends implementation of the town's previously directed nonprofit pricing structure for that period. A fuller policy discussion and any possible revisions to the pricing schedule will occur at the Sept. 9 work-study session, when staff is scheduled to present additional materials.