Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Longtime Jazzercise instructors press Carpinteria to restore holiday access to Veterans Hall amid new fee and staffing rules
Summary
Owners and instructors of a long-running Jazzercise program told the council that a recent rent increase and a new $25 staffing fee threaten holiday classes; city staff cited liability concerns and staffing shortages from risk-management guidance but agreed to cover one Saturday as an interim accommodation and to explore volunteer docent or contract-instructor options.
Multiple Jazzercise instructors and long-time participants addressed the council to request an exception to a recent policy change that added a staff fee and removed unsupervised key access to Veterans Hall.
Connie Ferquin, who said she and her sister have operated Jazzercise classes in Carpinteria for decades, described the holiday classes as a community tradition and asked the council to allow a volunteer key-holder program that would include city-approved training and a signed agreement. "Community partnership demonstrates the city's commitment to supporting grassroots recreation programs and empowering community leaders like ourselves," she said.
City staff explained the recent policy change followed recommendations from the city's risk manager (CJPIA) about unsupervised facility access and noted recent staffing shortages that limited the city's ability to provide attendants. The city manager said the staffing fee separated from rental costs but that the city would accommodate Saturday classes by authorizing overtime staff for that day. Staff also committed to researching alternatives such as a certified volunteer/docent program, a contract-instructor model or hiring a city-sponsored employee to manage weekend access; the matter would be agendized if council wanted formal policy direction.
Council members acknowledged the community value of the program and asked staff to examine options (annual cost absorption, volunteer certification, contractor models). The city attorney and risk manager emphasized liability concerns if unauthorized or unsupervised access were allowed without proper agreements and training.
The council did not change policy at the meeting; staff reported they would seek near-term solutions to allow some holiday activity and investigate longer-term policy changes with an eye to liability, staffing and fairness across user groups.
