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Abilene parks staff recommend no entry fees for new recreation centers; board directs staff to continue fee planning
Summary
Parks staff recommended the new recreation centers avoid daily or annual entry fees, citing taxpayer-funded facilities and library partnership restrictions; the Parks and Recreation Board voted to direct staff to continue developing fee structures for classes, rentals and events with flexibility for cost-recovery and operational staffing needs.
City parks staff presented fee-policy options for Abilene’s new recreation centers and the Parks and Recreation Board voted to direct staff to continue developing those structures. Staff recommended against charging annual memberships or daily entry fees, citing that the centers are taxpayer-funded facilities and that library partners are barred by state law from charging an entry fee. The board approved a motion to direct staff to continue work on fee structures by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded.
Staff broke proposed fees into categories: annual memberships/daily passes, program classes, rentals, special events and a miscellaneous “other” category for items such as gaming-room scheduling. On memberships and daily passes, staff recommended not charging because the centers are “$28,000,000 facilities that the taxpayers have funded” and because library partners cannot charge for entry. On program classes, staff said fees would generally be cost-recovery and described two models: external instructors who typically receive 75% of class fees while the city retains 25% for registration and administration, and city-run classes where the city sets the fee. Staff said the council fee schedule currently allows staff to add program classes charging under $50 without separate city-council approval; any class fee above $50 must go to the City Council for approval.
For rentals, staff said the city will staff the building seven days a week and will not rent the entire facility without staff present; classrooms, lounges and kitchens may be rented during staffed hours. After-hours use would be permitted only with staff present and would include a staffing charge. Special events would be priced to recover event costs and would remain voluntary. Staff said the new buildings will have a staffed front desk positioned to observe entry points and will include monitored security cameras (described as 24/7 monitoring); staff said the city has not decided to add on-site security personnel.
Board members asked whether fees would prevent access and generally supported the staff’s caution against entry fees. One board member asked whether after-hours programming could include staffed late-night events; staff said that would be possible but would require planning for staffing and associated charges. After discussion and a short public hearing on the item (no substantive public testimony was recorded), a board member moved to direct staff to continue with the fee structures and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Board direction was procedural: staff will continue developing the detailed fee schedule and return to City Council as required by the council fee schedule for any fees above the current staff-authorized threshold.
Votes at a glance: Motion — “I move that we direct staff to continue on with their fee structures.” Mover: board member (name not specified). Second: board member (name not specified). Vote: voice vote; ayes recorded, no opposing votes recorded. Outcome: approved.
