Parks commissioners to review stall-cleaning contracts, consider fee changes

The Parks and Recreation Commission heard a letter about stall-cleaning contracts and agreed staff will review current rental fees and compensation for contracted stall cleaners, with recommendations expected at the January meeting.

Speaker 2 described the present fee structure for stall rentals: "$15 for the first night, $5 for each additional night," and said a separate cleaning fee is currently $7, with an $8 charge in cases that require extra shavings. "We raised that fee probably so it's probably been about 15 years ago," Speaker 2 said, adding staff will examine fees for different event durations and how cleaners are compensated.

Speaker 3 asked whether stall cleaners have been paid promptly. Speaker 2 said payments are processed through the comptroller's office, paperwork is handled after cleaning, and checks are mailed: "I think it's probably because she has to wait for the snail mail for them to get to her." Speaker 2 characterized the stall cleaners as contracted workers rather than county employees and noted that contractors who earn above the IRS reporting threshold receive the appropriate tax form (a Form 1099) from the county's financial office.

Commission members raised the option of hiring part- or full-time staff for cleaning, but Speaker 2 said that would raise costs and may not fit the county's patterns of stall usage, which range from large multi-day events to transient rentals. Speaker 4 asked whether the county should consider a paid employee given the frequency of events; Speaker 2 said staff will weigh that trade-off in its review.

Speaker 5 requested an update from Jorge in January on revising the stall-cleaner contract; Speaker 2 confirmed the item will likely appear on the January agenda alongside officer elections and budget items. No final policy changes were adopted at the meeting.