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Tomball council adds $40 to park reservation fee and updates pinata and prohibited‑items rules
Summary
Council voted Nov. 17 to increase park reservation fees by $40 (effectively adding a maintenance fee) and to allow candy‑filled pinatas with self‑provided stands while banning confetti, glitter, color powders, water balloons and similar littering items.
Tomball City Council voted Nov. 17 to amend park reservation charges and update park rules, adding a $40 per‑reservation increase to help recover maintenance costs and adopting clearer prohibitions on messy decorations.
Two options presented: staff offered a refundable $100 maintenance deposit (Option 1) or a nonrefundable $40 maintenance fee (Option 2). Council amended the motion to increase the reservation fee by $40 (effectively choosing a nonrefundable maintenance addition) and carried the motion. Staff said the change brings Tomball more in line with comparable cities and helps cover staff time and cleanups without administratively processing refundable deposits.
Policy on pinatas and prohibited items: Staff proposed allowing candy‑filled pinatas when a renter supplies a freestanding stand and does not attach the pinata to any park structure or tree. Council adopted the change and expanded the prohibited items list to expressly ban confetti, glitter, colored powders, silly string, water balloons and other items likely to scatter litter and create cleanup burdens.
Enforcement and next steps: Staff said the reservation process will continue to instruct renters about rules and that the master fee schedule will be updated to reflect the $40 fee change. The city retains the ability to revisit the fee and the prohibited‑items list if problems arise.
(Reporting from the Nov. 17, 2025 Tomball City Council meeting.)
