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Parks and Rec board told fee-schedule changes will go to county council for approval
Summary
Staff told the advisory board that fee-schedule changes will now be recommendations to elected officials — the board will no longer have final approval authority. Members raised questions about out-of-county fees, field rental structures, and the ability of families to absorb higher costs.
Staff introduced a proposed change to the county’s fee-schedule process and provided an ordinance draft for board review. The key change staff described is procedural: the advisory board will continue to recommend fees, but elected county officials (county council) will have final approval authority for fee-schedule changes, a role the advisory board carried in the past (staff said the last fee change was in 2012).
Board members asked how the change would affect proposals the board might want to raise. Staff replied the board would still provide recommendations and have dialogue with staff, but the final decision on any fee change will be made by council. Staff framed the change as aligning responsibility with elected officials.
Members questioned several specific proposals in fee comparisons presented by staff: proposed out-of-county premiums for program participants, whether county or school fields should be charged by hour or per event, and how administrative/maintenance costs factor into event fees. Staff explained that shared-use agreements mean the county cannot unilaterally set school fees, and that staffing, maintenance and janitorial costs inform event fees — a short event may still incur multi-hour staff time.
Several board members raised equity concerns, noting cumulative costs for families with multiple children and the possibility that higher out-of-county fees could discourage participation. Staff said the department conducted comparative studies of regional fees and believes county pricing remains competitive.
The board did not take a formal vote on the ordinance at the meeting; staff asked the board to provide feedback outside the meeting and to forward recommendations to council.
