Bluff approves purchase of 50 folding chairs and schedules work session on rental fees and waivers

Malia Collins presented options for purchasing cushioned folding chairs suitable for pavilion rentals and asked for council direction on quantity, storage and rental pricing. Collins said the chairs cost about $27.98 each from Home Depot and suggested starting with 50 for the community center; she noted about 100 of the current folding cushioned chairs and about 40 stacking cushioned frame chairs are already owned.

Council discussed storage logistics (shipping container or Room 2), whether to retire older black stacking chairs, rental demand (one or two pavilion rentals per year, arts festivals, and other events), and potential rental rates; Collins suggested $60 per day for table and chair rentals requiring pickup and drop-off. A motion to purchase 50 folding chairs for the community center was made and approved by unanimous voice vote.

Separately the council debated rental fees and waivers for the community center and Fire Mesa Kitchen. Council members proposed eliminating a general rental fee for local community uses and charging only a nonrefundable cleaning fee (with geographic eligibility tied to ZIP code discussion). Staff were asked to prepare a cost-of-running analysis for rentals, provide historical rental use breakdowns (parties, political events, 501(c)(3) users, funerals) and to present details at a June 24 work session.

Council also authorized staff to lend a set of older metal folding chairs to a Bears Ears National Monument event after confirming the requester’s record of returning equipment.

Staff were asked to bring historical usage data, fee-waiver counts, and a proposed fee schedule to the June 24 work session so council can determine whether rentals should be treated as a community service or cost-recovery function.