Finance committee recommends $600 weekly nonprofit pavilion rate for St. John’s; defers EMS overnight pay and membership changes

The Finance Committee on April 27 voted to recommend that the common council approve a reduced nonprofit weekly rental rate of $600 for Saint John’s Lutheran Church’s requested weeklong use of the park pavilion during its annual rummage sale.

Staff presented the request and explained the nonprofit rate calculations. Committee members discussed options and moved and seconded a recommendation that staff offer a $600-per-week nonprofit rate to the church and forward the recommendation to the common council for final approval.

Separately the committee examined an EMS proposal to increase overnight weekday pay from $2.86/hour to $3.50/hour to improve coverage. Staff estimated the recurring annual cost at roughly $1,010 for a two-person crew (larger for three-person coverage). Committee members warned against midyear wage changes without fuller budget analysis and requested additional financial projections; the item was not approved and will be returned with more detail.

Committee members also discussed recreation membership-structure options for the TAG center — including the possibility of an aquatics-only or fitness-only pass, and regional partner subsidies or reciprocal agreements with neighboring communities. Staff outlined a drafted outreach letter to neighboring communities and emphasized the TAG center’s operational deficit; members asked staff to develop proposals and tabled formal rate changes.

The pavilion-rate recommendation will be considered by the common council; EMS pay and membership restructuring were continued for further analysis.