McCall parks and rec committee highlights hires, $35,000 in boat-ramp fees

The McCall Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee presented its annual report to the City Council, highlighting event growth, new facilities and staffing changes. Stephanie Bork, Parks and Recreation business manager, introduced committee chair Avi Azulay, who said the department ran 12 special events and 20 recreation programs over the year and opened a new shop space. Azulay also noted the department’s near‑one‑year presence at the library as a way to showcase services to the community.

Azulay told council the department collected more than $35,000 in boat‑ramp fees this year and that some of those funds have already begun to address lake maintenance needs. He and staff credited community partnerships, local business participation and internal marketing for the collections. Bork said the program relied on online sales and participating local businesses (for example, Mile High Power Sports applied stickers to boats) and that the city had reverted from the CivicRec platform back to Team Sideline because of mobile‑app usability issues.

Council members asked how the fee program was enforced; Bork said there was no onsite attendant in the initial year and that the system operated largely on an honor basis, with on‑site staffing identified as a future goal to improve compliance and revenue. Council members praised staff and the advisory committee and welcomed the new recreation coordinator, Taylor, who Azulay said started in December and will help sustain programming.

The committee also reported ongoing seasonal staffing challenges. Azulay and council members said they expect incremental improvements as staffing and program adjustments are made.