Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Budget And Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parks staff propose fee updates, confirm Butler Park ADA pathway and preview community courts pricing
Summary
Parks staff told the Feb. 5 board they reworked rental fees (effective Feb. 18) with resident/nonresident tiers and a block-rental format; staff also clarified the Butler Park basketball rebuild (budgeted $100,000 plus $10,000 contingency) will include an ADA-compliant pathway, and previewed that community courts will use a resident/nonresident fee structure under development.
At the Feb. 5 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, staff outlined administrative changes to facility fees, clarified scope and budget for the Butler Park basketball court rebuild and previewed fee models for the city’s forthcoming community courts.
Parks staff said fee schedules were reworked and signed off for implementation on Feb. 18. The new approach shifts to a "block" rental format (typically two main blocks such as 7 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3 p.m.–10 p.m.), and introduces resident and nonresident rates for certain venues, including the John Torok/Torak Center, community hall and pavilions. Staff described the increases as modest and said detailed fee tables will be circulated to the board.
Mike Elkins clarified scope for the Butler Park basketball project, saying the original budget was $100,000 and the project added a $10,000 contingency; the work will rebuild the basketball court and add an ADA-compliant pathway from the pavilion parking lot to the court and toward the main parking lot drive. Staff confirmed there are no plans to add lights to that court (the park closes at dusk), though lights remain installed at Butler Park for pickleball, tennis and volleyball due to tournament play.
On the community courts, Zach Kaufman (introduced earlier by staff as the operational manager for the new courts) said staff are benchmarking other facilities to determine pricing models. "We do visualize there being a resident, nonresident type fee structure depending on whether it's membership or per-use pricing," Kaufman said, adding that the facility is unique and staff want to be deliberate in setting fees. Staff expects to release additional details at the end of February.
Staff also reported park-project timelines: Willowdale’s boardwalk is scheduled for delivery next week with completion and opening expected in late March or early April. The board had no substantive votes on the projects at this meeting; staff will return with final fee tables and project updates.
