Council previews aquatic center fee changes and proposes citywide park rules; pavilion rental fee held for later action

Aransas Pass city staff introduced proposed changes to aquatic-center fees and a consolidated set of park rules at the April 7 meeting, prompting council discussion about affordability and enforcement.

Aquatics manager Brandy Peters told the council the pool is more than 20 years old, has rising maintenance and operating costs and that staff propose modest fee changes and a new non-resident fee category. The recommendation is intended to "ease into" cost recovery rather than make large immediate increases. Specific proposals discussed by staff included a $2 increase for non-resident adult and child daily admissions, a $2 surcharge for non-residents on family-night admissions, and a $20 increase to the season pass price. Staff also suggested adjusting the child age band for the kiddie pool to 29 years (proposal moved to 295 years in presentation to reflect usage patterns of very young children).

On parks, staff presented an ordinance update to consolidate general park rules into city code so signs and enforcement are consistent across city-owned park properties. The draft adds hours, no-littering rules, and clarifies the reservation/deposit process. Staff recommended a rental schedule for the large pavilion at Community Park (half-day and full-day rates of $20 and $30 were proposed) and described refund distinctions: refundable deposits for private/community users and partially refundable deposits for corporate users.

Council reaction and direction

Several council members objected to charging fees for the pavilion, noting nearby cities use first-come, first-served policies and that Aransas Pass residents expect free public access. After discussion, staff agreed to bring the package back at the next council meeting "for action minus the pavilion fee," so the pavilion charge will be removed from the draft before final council consideration. Council members expressed support for keeping resident daily admission rates unchanged and for protecting seniors from fee increases.

Why it matters

The changes aim to ensure the aquatics operation remains financially sustainable while preserving affordable access for residents. Codifying park rules will make enforcement clearer and permit staff to post consistent signage and process reservations. The council's decision to remove the pavilion fee indicates sensitivity to equity and local expectations for free public park use.

Next steps

Staff will return the adjusted fee and ordinance package at the next council meeting with the pavilion fee excluded for further council action.