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Vice chair pitches special-events guideline and proposes $1,000–$1,500 starter fee, board weighs exemptions
Summary
The board reviewed a draft special-events application and flowchart and discussed a proposed $1,000–$1,500 starter rental fee; members urged exemptions or grandfathering for longstanding local nonprofits and schools and agreed to refine the draft for legal review.
At its Jan. 21 special meeting the Awendaw Municipal Park Foundation Board discussed a draft special-events guideline and a proposed fee structure for renting the park.
The vice chair introduced a flowchart-based application intended to streamline how individuals and organizations reserve park space, saying the draft drew from other municipalities’ templates. "Essentially I just wanted to put together just like a quick comprehensive plan as far as how we...renting the space," the vice chair said, and asked the board to review and return comments for the February meeting.
Board members debated how to price rentals. One board member suggested a starting fee in the $1,000–$1,500 range per event, but others warned that that level could price out recurring community groups. Members noted practices elsewhere—one nearby town uses a $200 event fee with deposit and nonprofit exceptions—and discussed exempting or grandfathering longstanding local nonprofits and schools with proof of 501(c) status. "We might do it differently if it's our event," a board member said, arguing for flexibility for town-sponsored activities.
Members agreed to refine the draft guideline, prepare graduated-fee options and propose explicit exemptions for civic and nonprofit groups. The vice chair said the board will send the consolidated draft to the town attorney for legal review and return a revised version for the February meeting so the board can decide what to forward to council.
