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Parks board approves rental policy tweaks; staff flags unsafe former Boy Scouts building
Summary
Parks staff said they will change pavilion rental terms (remove the $30 deposit, raise total to $250 and require half the fee at booking) and reported the older FOP building is in poor condition and may need demolition unless a partner invests in repairs.
Columbia City Parks staff outlined several operational changes to pavilion rentals and described structural concerns with a former Boy Scouts (FOP) building during the Dec. 22 department meeting.
Staff said the department plans to remove a $30 refundable deposit from pavilion reservations and instead charge $250 total with half the fee due at booking. "We went to $250, and no deposit, but you need to put, half," staff said, explaining that the change is intended to reduce administrative friction and improve enforcement of cancellations. Staff also clarified that shorter-notice cancellations (less than one month) will not receive refunds for field or pavilion uses.
On facility condition, staff recommended the old building previously used by the Boy Scouts be demolished unless a partner is willing to invest in structural and pest-related repairs. "My personal opinion with that building is that it needs to come down," staff said, citing concerns about bees and missing maintenance elements. Board members and staff discussed potential reuse scenarios and noted that if another entity wanted to share the property, they would need to make it secure.
Staff noted logistics will shift on Jan. 1: dispatch and the police department have handled money collection and key issuance previously, but beginning Jan. 1 those responsibilities will transfer to parks staff. Staff reported the facility was not heavily rented last year (about 50 rentals) and that capacity figures differ by location: the FOP can hold about 155 people while the main park pavilion holds about 125.
Board members asked staff to return with follow-up information on electrical and ceiling issues at the FOP and to prioritize safety work before offering new rentals. Staff said some renovations and lock-code changes are planned and that they will not be renting the FOP early in the year if substantial repairs are required.
The changes are operational actions by staff and were discussed and informally agreed to by board members during the meeting; transcript does not record a separate formal vote on these rental-policy specifics.
