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Council discusses park impact fee change, splash-pad costs and electric-rate risk in budget review
Summary
Council reviewed a shift to per-square-foot park impact fees to meet state law, examined splash-pad operating-cost estimates of $5,000–$10,000 annually, and noted a Benton REA 10% rate increase that may affect utility projections.
During the budget workshop, Chair explained the city adjusted park impact fees to a per-square-foot basis to comply with state law rather than attempting to calculate fees by bedroom count. “We27ve come in into compliance with the state law where we27ve adjusted it to a per square foot,” Chair said, adding consultants recommended the approach to avoid disputes over bedroom counts.
Council members also asked about operating costs for a planned splash pad and related water treatment. One council member cited online figures and told the group that splash pads “usually cost anywhere from 5 to 10,000 per year,” and staff said the project could range depending on design and whether on-site reclaiming equipment is used.
Staff advised that installing a reclaimer to treat and recycle splash-pad water would significantly increase capital and maintenance costs; one staff speaker said maintaining a reclaimer could be almost double the purchase-and-maintain cost compared with not reclaiming onsite and routing water to sewer ponds.
On utilities, staff noted Benton REA was planning a roughly 10% rate increase; council members discussed adding modest buffers in the draft budget for anticipated increases so that service funds are not underbudgeted if rates rise.
No fee schedule changes were formally adopted during the workshop; council requested follow-up materials showing how per-square-foot assessments will affect projected revenues and asked staff to return with detailed splash-pad operating-cost estimates and options for water treatment.
Next steps: Staff to provide revenue impact estimates under the revised park-impact approach, a splash-pad operating-cost analysis (with and without a reclaimer), and an assessment of how a 10% utility-rate increase would affect the utility funds.
