Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears and approves bringing back new summer fees and public-records updates; parks permit fee proposed
Summary
Finance director Jason Falner proposed temporary summer fees and updates to the city's fee resolution including parade entry fees, a new $300 permit for park concessions and education/fitness classes, and revised public-records charges/deposit rules; council approved a motion to bring the changes back for formal amendment of the resolution.
The Post Falls City Council heard a public hearing on proposed changes to the city fee resolution and voted to bring back the proposed updates for formal adoption.
Jason Falner, the city’s finance director, presented several adjustments aimed at the busy summer season: a set of parade-entry fees (political/elected officials $50; commercial personal entries $40; community entries $20; marching units $20; vehicle tiers $20–$30; exemptions for veterans/military), and two new park‑related administrative charges. Staff proposed adding a one‑time $300 permit for concessionaires and a matching $300 permit for education and fitness activity vendors who use city parks. Existing usage charges remain: a $25 per day concession fee and a $2 per daily participant charge; for concessionaires the city also retains a 15% fee on sales above $500. Falner said the $300 fee is to recover staff administrative time for nonstandard or third‑party events and to ensure compliance with park use rules.
Falner also proposed changes to public‑records handling: staff described a rise in out‑of‑state and automated records requests that have consumed legal‑department time and asked for authority to require deposits before extensive work, and to bill for out‑of‑state requests instead of offering the two free hours currently afforded under Idaho law. Copy charges would be updated (black‑and‑white 25¢ per page; color $1 per page; DVD $5; flash drive $10; oversized-document costs passed through at vendor cost).
Council members asked whether the $300 permit might deter small vendors and whether requiring a permit rather than a fee could meet the city’s goals. Parks Director Chris Emerman explained the fee compensates staff and helps manage increasing demand — including unique or large events that require substantial staff review, such as lantern festivals or on‑site sauna proposals. Council directed staff to return with the updated fee resolution for formal amendment.
The city closed the public hearing without public testimony on this item and approved a motion to bring the fee updates back to the council for resolution amendment.
