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County staff propose camping rate increases, online reservations and expanded cabin strategy to boost park revenue
Summary
Park manager and staff urged modest rate increases, recommended setting up online camping reservations and discussed bringing cabins onto commercial booking platforms. Commissioners asked staff to return with precise fiscal transfers and electricity usage figures next week.
Sherry (last name not specified), park manager, presented a package of proposed rate adjustments and an online reservation plan for lane County Park (Marina Lane and cabins). Staff showed a cost breakdown for online reservations that included third-party transaction fees and warned that small transactions (for parking or single-night stays) could become more expensive for customers under the platform's fee structure.
Sherry explained that an online reservation link (a short website integration) would let people book campsites and cabins, but that third-party processing fees (a per-transaction payment and a percentage for credit-card processing) would add to customers' costs. "The cost of the camping just went from $20 to $24.28," Sherry said as an example for single-night fees once third-party charges are applied.
Because the platform charges a flat fee per small transaction, staff recommended splitting services: keep walk-up parking and boat-slip payments on the park—————————'s existing VINTech pay station while adding online booking for multi-night camping and cabins. Sherry asked the board to let her check several providers and report back with a cost breakdown that isolates online camping from parking and boat-slip options.
Sherry also proposed modest per-night increases: tent sites up by $1 (for example, from $12 to $13), cabins to $65 per night on non-peak dates, and higher holiday peak rates (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July, hunting season and local festival days) to $75 for cabins. She compared local cabin and campground rates and said the proposed increases are in line with regional markets.
On capital and operating finances, the park reported year-to-date receipts of about $350,570.90 and expenditures of $263,626.25, a gain of $54,944.65 through November. Staff recommended that the board designate carryover funds: $10,000 for a park lagoon maintenance fund and roughly $6,000 to finish the dock system; the remainder to be applied toward special equipment or vehicle replacements.
Commissioners asked for more precise numbers on electricity costs for long-term campers (Marina Lane) and requested a formal transfer of year-end balances at next week—————————'s meeting. Commissioners also discussed cabins on Airbnb/other platforms: staff said the operation could be automated but would require additional housekeeping/laundry capacity before scaling up.
Sherry said she would return next week with: (1) separate price quotes for a reservation provider limited to camping (and a separate quote if boat slips/parking must be included), (2) a proposed resolution or transfer for the end-of-year fund moves, and (3) electricity usage and revenue calculations for Marina Lane.
