Board recommends green-fee, athletics and field-rental increases to city commission

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board voted to forward a comprehensive package of fee changes — affecting golf, athletics and field rentals — to the city commission for approval.

James Stowe, parks staff, outlined the proposals: a $2 increase to green fees at both courses (weekend and weekday adjustments), incremental increases to twilight and cart fees, a $50-per-team increase for softball, modest permit changes for volleyball, and field rental increases of $5 per youth and adult field. "So George is just ... it's a $2 in fee green fee increase at both courses," Stowe said when summarizing the golf changes.

Stowe explained the increases respond to rising operational costs — fuel, fertilizer, officials’ pay — and are intended to move these activities toward cost recovery. He told the board golf rounds and revenue are up compared with last year and said the department has made investments in infields and turf.

Board members discussed timing of golf-cart leases and the tennis center's recent permit increases; one member said the golf-cart replacement is planned for the coming fall/winter and that the department hopes new carts will be in place by spring. After discussion the board kept the motion on the table and voted to forward the full fee schedule to city commission, with the chair calling the voice vote and members saying "aye." No formal recorded opposition was noted at the time of the voice vote.

Why this matters: The proposed fee adjustments would raise user costs for golf players, team sport participants and groups that rent fields; the board framed the package as a step toward cost recovery for self-sustaining programs while acknowledging the increases are modest per participant.

The board’s recommendation will next go to the city commission, which must approve any ordinance or rate change before it takes effect.