Park board reconsiders user fees

Whitefish’s Park Board is in the process of crafting a new facility use fee schedule they hope is more equitable than a contentious plan presented to city council in January.
“It’s important to quantify any fees we charge for services provided,” Parks and Recreation director Karl Cozad told city councilors at a Feb. 19 joint work session.
Proposed increases to the fee schedule were met with harsh criticism at a Jan. 7 council meeting. Backers of the downtown farmers market and sponsors of other annual events at Depot Park said exorbitant fees could put Whitefish’s most popular events in jeopardy. The criticism spurred council to postpone their vote.
Cozad presented a few alternatives for consideration at the work session.
One includes an option for hourly rentals at a rate of $25 per hour for Depot Park.
“This option would be of benefit to family groups who wish to use Depot Park for shorter periods of time, and special events that last a few hours as opposed to a full or half day,” Cozad noted in a staff report.
Instead of a $500 event support fee, Cozad is suggesting a $500 refundable deposit to cover any damages to the facility or additional city staff time.
A new fee schedule could also consider different fees based upon the use of the facility — whether the event is free and open to public, an exclusive use of the park, or if the event is an exclusive use and an admission fee is charged.
Cozad suggested the city establish a consistent vendor policy and fee structure for all special events, whether they occur on streets, parks or public facilities.
“I would also recommend that we refrain from any vendor based fee at this time,” he said.
“Let’s look at the attendance — the feet on the ground.”
During public comment, farmers market organizer Rhonda Fitzgerald said not all vendors are the same.
“A guy selling beer during Fourth of July is not the same as someone’s aunt crocheting pot holders,” she said.
Park board member Ron Brunk added that not all events are equal, either.
“200 people square dancing is tougher [on a park] than 200 people having a picnic,” he said.
User fees will remain unchanged this season, but the Park Board hopes to have a new plan ready for council approval before the FY 2014 budget is finalized.
Councilor Bill Kahle said whatever plan is crafted, it should be “quantified and justified.”
“I want fees to be levied equally for all facilities and justified by impact on facility itself,” he said.
Chris Hyatt added that the fees are to recoup and revitalize the park after an event.
“We’re not trying to pay for everyday maintenance,” he said.
Kahle said the events downtown help make Whitefish what it is.
“But those [maintenance] costs have to be covered somehow,” he said.
User fees make up about 4-5 percent of the park department’s yearly budget.
Cozad said the department’s budget has stayed flat for about five years, despite picking up more space to maintain, including new downtown landscaping, the city’s recent purchase of Depot Park and new bike paths.
“It’s frustrating seeing energy going into development of facilities but not being able to maintain them,” he said. “We need resources present to maintain greenspaces and greenways.”
Cozad said the biggest impact on Depot Park last year was the sheer number of events. A new Depot Park management plan proposed by the park board allows only one multi-day event per month and only one weekend single-day event per week. The scheduling limitations were crafted to allow recovery time between events.
“Last year had a major event almost every week,” he said. “We knew it would take its toll. Limitations in the use policy will go a long way.”