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City commission approves Brandon Center rate changes, authorizes grant allocation
Summary
The commission approved staff recommendations to restore pre‑COVID base rates for the Brandon Center, add a summer discount and reduce included rental hours while authorizing a grant allocation to support nonprofit use; the change aims to increase revenue and occupancy and takes effect immediately for new bookings.
The New Smyrna Beach City Commission voted to approve staff recommendations for the Brandon Center’s 2025 rates and guidelines and authorized a grant allocation to support nonprofit access for the coming fiscal year.
Leisure services staff, represented by Rob Salazar, told commissioners they will restore pre‑COVID base rates, establish a summer weekday discount (June–August, a 20% reduction), and reduce the number of hours included in a flat fee from 15 to 8 with options to purchase additional hours. Salazar said the proposed changes aim to increase occupancy and revenue and allow the department greater flexibility to negotiate pricing for short‑notice, multi‑day or recurring reservations with city manager or designee approval.
Commissioners questioned the labor‑cost and staffing impacts of shortening included hours; Salazar said the move is intended to reallocate staff time across venues and better cover three facilities rather than to immediately reduce headcount. He said already‑committed reservations would be honored at their existing rates and that new reservations would follow the revised structure.
The commission also approved including a grant program to subsidize nonprofit use of the Brandon Center; staff used a $40,000 example budget during the presentation and said any exact allocation would be finalized through a subsequent budget amendment. On the motion to approve staff recommendations and allocate the grant in the current fiscal year, the commission voted in favor and asked staff to return with a budget amendment specifying the amount.
The vote gives staff authority to implement the new rate structure immediately for new bookings and to draft the grant administration and application window language for later City Commission approval.
