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Council weighs business membership rules, delays gym rental fees at Gun Barrel City community center
Summary
Council discussed allowing business owners (not only property owners) to receive community center memberships, suggested limiting complimentary members to up to three, and deferred setting gym rental fees while staff refines schedules and floor-preservation plans; parks staff described designated pickleball times and an open-gym policy.
On March 17, 2026, the Gun Barrel City Council considered policy language for community center memberships and gymnasium rentals.
City Manager Dr. Smith said one unresolved question was whom to qualify for business memberships: property owners, business owners, or both. He recommended tying eligibility to business ownership and verifying eligibility through certificate of occupancy (CO) records. Council members discussed limiting complimentary membership access to multiple owners and suggested a practical cap (several members favored allowing up to three people per registered business). Dr. Smith confirmed staff will return with precise language and that the item will come back to council at the April meeting for final action.
Why it matters: membership rules determine who accesses city facilities at no or reduced cost and affect small businesses, churches that operate businesses on premises, and taxpayers who subsidize community center operations.
Gym and operations: staff said they had not set gym rental fees yet because the facility lacks spectator space and is not suited for tournaments; staff will bring recommended fee schedules for youth and adult leagues in April. Brooke, a parks staff member, described current scheduling for pickleball (designated mornings, two weeknights and some Saturdays) and explained the city follows an "open gym" policy when the court is not reserved: "When it's not designated for pickleball, they can come in and play pickleball, but if somebody wants to come in and use the gym, they get to," Brooke said, describing how staff remove nets and accommodate arriving users.
Council decision: members agreed not to set rental fees at this meeting and directed staff to draft membership verification and fee recommendations for the April meeting.
