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Council debates water-park pricing, discounts and budget amendments ahead of next week's vote
Summary
Treasurer presented updates to the water park budget and pricing; council members split over resident discounts, inaugural-season pricing, and whether to amend the introduced ordinance now or approve a clean ordinance and amend later. Staff said operating costs total about $1.64 million for the season and recommended specific administrative reallocations totaling $38,696.
Treasurer summarized revisions to the water-park budget (ordinance 02613), including an administrative-cost allocation and payroll-linked additions totaling $38,696; staff reported the full-season operational cost estimate at about $1.64 million and provided a rate table showing resident, county, and out-of-county admission prices.
Council members debated season-pass pricing and whether taxpayers who financed construction should receive deeper resident discounts. Some councilors urged lower inaugural-season rates to encourage resident use; others warned that discounts increase the general-fund subsidy and asked members proposing discounts to identify the offsetting funding. The packet includes a planned 20% Black Friday discount and staff said season-pass rates used for budget projection are subject to change.
Staff also discussed operational drivers: payroll increases tied to minimum-wage trends, the need to hire a water-park director early to manage ramp-up and lifeguard training, and capacity planning (staff estimates suggest comfortable operating ranges around 550'75 attendees though higher allowances were discussed). Council members proposed alternatives including twilight rates, a resident day, coupons, or limited free-entry windows as ways to refund value to long-term taxpayers without permanently reducing prices.
On process, staff proposed four specific budget adjustments to the introduced ordinance (administration allocation and payroll/federal taxes/benefits) that would be funded by a general-fund transfer; some councilors preferred passing the introduced ordinance and adopting budget amendments later via a formal amendment if needed. The council did not take a final vote; staff said the water-park budget and any agreed amendments will be on next meeting's agenda.
