Herriman holds off on changing athletic-field fees; staff to return with phased plan

Herriman City staff presented a recommended rental‑fee framework for a new community center room and the city’s multi‑use athletic fields, saying the city currently covers most operating costs and recovers only a small share through rental fees.

Parks and finance staff told the council the city is covering about 95% of annual field costs and currently recovers roughly 5% through rental and contract fees. Staff noted contracted volunteer organizations perform significant maintenance and scheduling work; as a result, those groups historically pay a flat contract rate (staff said $10 per day in current contracts). New parks coming online this year — Mountain Ridge and Monument Park — prompted discussion about whether premium fields should begin at a higher rate.

Councilmembers debated objectives: preserve resident access to parks, acknowledge volunteer labor provided by organizations, avoid abrupt increases that could push teams to neighboring cities, and make subsidy levels transparent to contract groups. Jared (speaking from experience coaching) urged a phased approach: "Maybe this year in their contract, yep, it's gonna go to the $80.20. And the following year, we'd move the $60.40, etcetera," and recommended incremental changes rather than a one‑time jump. Trevor (staff) summarized the financial picture and recommended monitoring rentals this spring.

By consensus the council instructed staff to keep existing rates for the current contract year (contracts were noted as due Feb. 15), to inform contract holders that increases are expected next year, and to return with a detailed phased plan and an analysis of per‑participant and per‑team impacts by late summer.