Apache Junction parks staff outline five‑year fee study, warn changes would go to City Council

Apache Junction Parks and Recreation staff presented a mandatory five‑year fee study at the commission’s April 1 meeting and said any proposed fee changes will go to City Council for final approval, with implementation targeted for 2027.

Riley King, who led the briefing, told commissioners “we have to do this every five years by state law,” and reviewed market comparisons for program, membership and facility fees, new price lines the city does not yet charge and example cost breakdowns for events at the rodeo grounds and Flat Iron Park. King said staff used comparator cities — including Queen Creek and Maricopa — but cautioned that “no one center is the same,” so benchmarks vary by amenity.

Staff outlined specific items under consideration: new facility and equipment fees for the rodeo grounds (for example, watering/tractor operator costs that require a CDL and attendant), updated rental rates for ramadas and open space, nonprofit and nonresident rate structures, and sample bill-of-costs for hypothetical events such as a single‑day concert or a multi‑day festival. King said the department tested revenue models and usage, noting the Multi‑Generation Center is the largest single fee revenue source.

Commissioners asked for detail on several items. One raised affordability concerns: “raising fees right now has to be done taking a careful look at our economy,” a commissioner said, urging sensitivity to local income levels and the community’s economic reality. Jamie Sullivan, parks and recreation staff, responded that fee revenue makes up a small portion of overall funding—“about 5%”—and that staff plan to target fee adjustments where the city is substantially under benchmark or where no fee currently exists so the department does not lose money on event operations.

Staff also described event logistics and timeline: the rodeo pavilion erection is slated to begin April 27 and phase one of rodeo grounds work is expected to be complete by mid‑June; the pickleball courts are “nearing completion” with a target opening around May 21. Those facility details inform rental and operating costs used in the study.

Next steps: staff will return with recommended fee changes to the commission in the summer (one or the June meeting, depending on schedules), then present the commission’s recommendations to City Council at a public hearing. Any adopted changes would be scheduled to take effect in 2027.

No fees were adopted at the April 1 meeting; the commission requested additional comparisons and emphasis on nonprofit and low‑income protections before voting.