Chester committee reviews revised parks fee schedule, tables vote for more review

The Parks and Recreation and Facilities committee in Chester reviewed a proposed revision to the city—ee schedule on March 10 that would lower weekday community-room rental rates, tighten event end times and change rules for nonprofits and block parties, but members agreed to table action until they can compare the new language with existing policy.

The proposal, presented by the parks director, would reduce the weekday "repass" or community-room weekday rate from $500 to $400 while keeping weekend rentals at $500, and would make nonprofit park use free when an event is open to the public if the group provides proof of status (EIN/501 documentation). Staff also proposed a $25 fee for block-party permits and suggested setting clearer time limits on park events, including a proposal that park events end by 8 p.m. and that community-room weekend events end by 11 p.m. instead of midnight. The packet additionally described procedures for charging extra hours when events run past the scheduled end time and noted current payment constraints: the city still accepts money orders and the refund process requires administrative approvals.

Why it matters: Committee members said the package responds to staff concerns about long shifts and overtime for maintenance crews while also trying to preserve affordable access for residents and community groups. Councilman Lewis pressed staff on the financial logic of tightening end times, saying, "We're not saving anything on the hours because they're either gonna come in an hour early or come in an hour later," and staff replied that the intent is to reduce lengthy event-day shifts for employees. Crystal Burrell, a parks staff member, said the city's existing social-event fee is already high: "We're already charging $700 for a social event, which is actually on the high end," and warned that adding security deposits before the city adopts electronic payments could deter renters.

Key details: Staff described several concrete proposals and operational constraints discussed at the meeting:

- Community-room weekday rate: proposed cut from $500 to $400; weekend rate remains $500 (proposal presented by Director).

- Additional-hour charges: staff mentioned an additional charge for events that run past scheduled end times (an extra $75 per hour was discussed in one exchange and a $100-an-hour figure was later mentioned during the discussion); staff said any overtime or extra fees would be noted on the rental application and enforced going forward.

- Time limits: staff proposed moving Saturday community-room end time earlier (target 11 p.m.) and setting Sunday end time at 6 p.m.; for parks, staff proposed an 8 p.m. end for park events in some packet language but agreed to confirm local curfew rules and seasonal variations.

- Nonprofit exemptions: park use would be free for qualifying nonprofits if the event is open to the community; private or staff-only nonprofit events would still be charged. Eligibility would require documentation such as EIN/501 proof.

- Block parties: staff proposed a $25 permit fee and suggested requiring 75% resident or business signoff depending on the location; police and the relevant commissioner would review routes and safety concerns.

- Payment/refund limitations: staff noted the city currently accepts money orders and is working on a refund process that requires administrative signoffs, which complicates implementing a refundable security-deposit system until electronic payment options are available.

What the committee decided: Rather than vote on the packet, a committee member moved to table the proposed changes until the next meeting to allow members to review the old and new language and confirm details such as curfew hours and contract/union implications. The chair agreed. Earlier in the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from March 18, 2025.

Next steps: Staff will provide the requested clarifications (curfew language, payment/refund options, and any union/contract guidance) and return the revised packet for committee review at a later meeting. The committee did not adopt the fee schedule at this session.