Lampasas council advances fee-schedule update after debate over sports-complex entrance charge

City of Lampasas staff presented amendments to the city fee schedule on Oct. 27, proposing new and revised charges across multiple departments, and council approved the ordinance's first reading after extended questions about enforcement and local impacts.

The workshop and subsequent regular session covered several items: a proposed reinspection fee for building and planning, a newly introduced electric tap fee, small increases in parts/field fees, a new participant fee at the 580 Complex, and an adjustment to water-meter charges (a rise for 3/4-inch meters and reductions for 1-inch and 2-inch meters). "An introduction to the electric tap fee. We have not had 1 in the past, so this will be a new fee that we're creating," staff told the council during the workshop presentation.

Parks staff described the proposed participant fee as a modest per-person charge intended to offset wear-and-tear from large tournaments at the 580 Complex. Staff used a $3 example for adults and clarified that recent tournaments have attracted "about 800 to a thousand people" and have produced maintenance costs the current rental fees do not cover. Council members pressed on enforcement and collection mechanics, especially in wide-open complex layouts where gating is difficult. Staff suggested options including staffed entrances, wristbands or stamps, or negotiating collection terms with event promoters; staff also said collection splits with third-party hosts would be negotiable.

Council members raised alternative approaches: several suggested increasing rental rates or structuring rental contracts to require host organizations to be responsible for event staffing rather than creating a general spectator charge. Some council members also worried that volunteer gate staffing or outsourcing collection to nonmunicipal volunteers could create bias or enforcement problems.

Airport and golf fees were also discussed. Staff said aviation fees would increase 10% across hangars (projected to raise about $7,300 annually) and that the airport was adding a storage unit available at roughly $100 per month. Golf-course fees previously amended by ordinance were clarified; staff said the current weekend green fee target is $37 and that changes took effect on May 1 of the year cited in the packet.

At the regular session the council took a voice vote on the proposed ordinance amendment to the fee schedule. The motion to proceed with the ordinance's first reading was approved by voice vote. The council asked staff to provide additional details on how the new tournament/participant or spectator fees would be collected and enforced, and to return with contract language clarifying responsibilities for event hosts and any proposed revenue splits.

The item remains subject to additional staff refinement and future agenda review for any final ordinance adoption.