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Committee hears that amphitheater, pool and senior center are straining the parks budget
Summary
Staff told the committee the amphitheater and pool may cover more operating costs but still face depreciation and labor gaps; members described these facilities as longstanding 'boat anchors' and discussed options, from raising fees to asking other cities to share costs.
City staff described steps intended to move amphitheater show and rental costs into a self-supporting operational model, and projected roughly $30,000 in combined revenue from ticket sales and rentals for the coming year. "When we sell the shows, we're gonna be charging a cost on that," Staff member (S6) explained, adding that private events also contribute to revenue.
Committee member (S3) questioned whether labor and depreciation had been fully included in the forecast, saying, "You got a 3 or 4 million dollar building that's gonna net you potentially 8 or $9,000 — as a real estate investor guy, that is a horrible return." Several members warned that demolition or abandonment would trigger grant clawbacks: "Remember that you're gonna have to repay 2,000,000 in grant funds," Committee member (S7) said, noting there are RAMP grant conditions to consider.
On the pool, staff (S6) described accounting timing issues and a plan to defer season-pass revenue to match fiscal-year accounting so the full season's receipts align with operating costs. "We're gonna defer that to 2027," Staff member (S6) said of season passes. Committee members pressed for clearer breakeven calculations (figures such as an $11.50 breakeven price were discussed) and recommended a conservative approach before raising fees that could suppress attendance.
Members also debated opening the pool on Sundays as a pilot to improve revenue and staffing utilization. "I think open on Sundays would be a success," Committee member (S7) suggested; others warned the city would need to ensure adequate staff and that parking, enforcement and crowd control implications be considered.
Regarding the senior center, staff said Weber County still covers part of the salary and that a bond related to the shelter expires in 2029; county federal funding rules limit the city’s ability to charge for some services, constraining short-term options to reduce the center’s net cost.
Committee members did not adopt a single course of action at the meeting but asked staff to provide more detailed year-over-year financials, depreciation schedules and clear statements of grant obligations and conditions before the tentative budget is presented to the council.
