Blue Lake trims event fees in transition year — RCMBA Enduro and Annie & Mary Day get waivers or discounts

Council debated a proposed fee‑waiver framework and two high‑profile requests on July 28 as Blue Lake implements a new fee schedule.

For the Mad River Enduro (an RCMBA event that uses Taylor Way for camping), staff proposed a weekend group camping rate to ease the stacked daily fees. RCMBA representatives argued the organization operates as an all‑volunteer nonprofit and that the new overnight fees—if applied retroactively—would impose substantial unplanned costs on participants and organizers. Council approved a $400 discount on the Taylor Way camping/facility charges to help the event through this transition year.

The Chamber of Commerce asked the council to waive a set of fees for the annual Annie & Mary Day festival, including facility rental, amplified‑music and alcohol‑service fees. Parks staff recommended waiving facility rental while recovering staff time and cost‑recovery items; council members argued for greater transparency and asked the Chamber for post‑event reporting and accounting of funds raised and local economic benefits. After extended public comment and debate, the council voted to waive all scheduled fees for the Chamber‑hosted Annie & Mary Day except direct staff cost recovery, and asked organizers to deliver a post‑event accounting of revenue and expenses so the city can evaluate future waivers.

Council asked staff to draft a uniform fee‑waiver framework to be considered as a future agenda item so administrative staff can handle routine waiver requests consistently and fairly.