Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Lampasas council debates Hostess House rental rules and cleaning fee as staff eyes February opening
Summary
Council discussed a revised Hostess House fee schedule, whether both floors may be rented simultaneously, occupancy caps, elevator/ADA access and cleaning-fee options (staff reported cleaning quotes from about $50 to $650); staff recommended bringing benchmarks and a final schedule for action in February.
City staff (Speaker 8) presented a revised fee schedule for the Hostess House and said the packet omitted a previously listed $5 cleaning fee that staff planned to reinstate. Councilmembers and residents questioned whether both floors can be rented at once, the effect on guests’ belongings and the potential for vandalism when different events run simultaneously on separate floors.
Staff confirmed handicap-accessible stalls on the first-floor restrooms and reported the ADA inspector advised individual-floor rentals would be acceptable. Staff also said elevator access routing could mean guests on one floor must pass through shared areas. "We did go out for some quotes for cleaning. They ranged from $50 to $650 per rental," staff said, noting quotes from firms that price by square footage and that the Hostess House measures nearly 7,000 square feet.
Council members debated whether to bundle a cleaning fee into base rental charges or keep it as a separate refundable fee to incentivize renters to tidy the space. Occupancy caps were discussed: staff reported occupancy limits of 117 on the first floor and 128 on the second floor, with an effective cap of roughly 200 if the entire building is rented. Staff said they would return with benchmark comparisons used from other cities and recommended either a workshop or a special session to finalize fee amounts prior to a proposed February opening.
Next steps: staff will provide benchmark rental numbers and copies of the proposed rental agreement and fee schedule for further review; council did not adopt fees at this meeting but directed staff to return with recommended figures.
