West Branch council adopts sweeping rewrite of park rules, updates fees and OKs concession contract

The West Branch City Council on Dec. 16 approved a complete revision of the city’s municipal park policies, adopted adjustments to parks and recreation fees and authorized a concession contract for Cubby Park.

Ordinance 820, which deletes Chapter 47 of the City Code and replaces it with a proposed consolidated Municipal Park Policies and Regulations document, passed on its third reading by unanimous vote. Mayor Roger Laughlin presided; Councilmember Tom Dean moved and Jerry Sexton seconded the third-reading motion.

Councilmembers also approved Resolution 2024-136 to amend the Parks & Recreation facility, park, sports field use and fees policy. Councilmember Jerry Sexton said some park and recreation fees “have always been a little low,” and Mayor Laughlin said staff reviewed fee schedules from other cities when setting the new rates. The council approved the fee-policy changes by voice vote.

The council additionally approved Resolution 2024-137, awarding a contract to Willie Guy for Cubby Park concession sales and management for 2025. Mayor Laughlin said the contract was revised to require consistent operating hours and that Guy agreed to the change; the motion to approve the contract was moved by Tom Dean and seconded by Jerry Sexton and carried unanimously.

City staff will implement the updated code and fee schedule; Ordinance 820 states the ordinance becomes effective after passage, approval and publication as required by law. The council did not record any public comments on the parks items at the Dec. 16 meeting.

The council’s actions affect public use rules, permit and fee structures for city parks and the vendor operations at Cubby Park beginning in 2025; the city will publish the adopted code and updated fee schedule once administrative steps are complete.