Commissioners direct manager to set $200 monthly rent for North Port Senior Center while staff develops hours‑based alternative

Parks and Recreation staff briefed the commission on March 2 about plans to transition the North Port Senior Center from its current Community Education Center lease to the George Mullen Activity Center. Staff recommended three options: retain the current $200 monthly flat rate (with an allowance of up to 120 hours per month), adopt a discounted flat rate aligned with youth athletics, or apply a 25% nonprofit hourly discount.

Sandy Funheller, Parks and Recreation Director, said staff had paired down the senior center’s weekly needs to about 29 hours per week and could manage setup and breakdown of tables and AV equipment as part of the fee. Staff noted summer camp scheduling at the Mullins/Mullen center would limit availability during approximately 10 weeks of the year and that the city does not have dedicated office space to replicate the senior center’s prior footprint; staff proposed portable office solutions.

Vice Mayor Langdon and other commissioners recommended an hours‑based approach for future fairness across nonprofits and asked the city attorney to confirm statutory constraints on nonprofit rates. After discussion, the commission reached consensus to direct the city manager to create a flat rental rate of $200 per month for up to 120 hours of monthly facility use, mirroring the senior center’s current effective rate; staff also was asked to return with an alternative based on hours of utilization.

No formal ordinance was adopted at the workshop; staff said an amended fee ordinance would be brought forward for formal approval and that staff will host an open house at the Mullins Center for senior center members on March 24.