Blufftown council reviews community center fee waivers and rental policy; staff proposes clearer rules

Malia (town staff member) presented rental data for the Bluff Community Center and the council discussed whether the town should keep waiving fees for certain nonprofit events.

Malia reported the center brought in about $10,000 in rental revenue in 2024 and that the town’s actual annual cost to operate the facility is roughly $38,478, covering insurance, wages, utilities and maintenance. She gave local price comparisons: Red Mesa charges $150 for four hours for nonmembers (includes meeting room, tables and AV), Bluff Dwellings charges $500–$700 per day for a smaller conference room, and Desert Rose lists rates up to $2,500 for large outdoor rentals. The town’s cleaning fees are $50 for the community center and $40 for the kitchen.

Councilmembers reiterated an existing, administrable rule: events sponsored by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are open to the public are eligible for fee waivers (staff would still collect cleaning fees). Members debated whether to expand waivers; some argued the waiver recognizes community service and repeat programming (for example, UNHS trainings were partially waived in 2025), while others said the town must be consistent and cover operating costs. One councilmember proposed raising the cleaning fee rather than waiving core rental fees.

The council asked staff to draft a clear written policy that specifies which organizations or event types qualify for waivers, whether out-of-town groups are eligible, and how to treat regularly scheduled community uses (pickleball, classes, open gym). Councilmembers asked for the draft policy to appear on the July 15 regular meeting agenda for discussion and potential action.